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Audit of the Background Verification Process of Commissioned Corps Officers Assigned to Tribal and Indian Health Service Health Programs

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is a branch of the Nation's uniformed services committed to the service of public health. Commissioned Corps Officers (CCOs) advance the Nation's public health by serving in agencies across the Government as physicians, nurses, dentists, scientists, engineers, and other professionals to fight disease, conduct research, and care for patients in underserved communities across the Nation and throughout the world. CCOs may be assigned to the Indian Health Service (IHS), which can place a CCO at Tribal or IHS health programs. The Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (P.L. No. 101-630) requires background investigations, including Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprinting, for individuals whose duties involve contact with children. Federal regulations require periodic reinvestigations of CCOs. Prior OIG audit work identified that Federal employees assigned to Tribal and IHS health programs did not always meet Federal background investigation requirements for individuals in contact with American Indian children. We will determine whether CCOs assigned to provide health care services to Tribal and IHS health programs received background investigations and reinvestigations in accordance with Federal requirements.

Announced or Revised Agency Title Component Report Number(s) Expected Issue Date (FY)
November 2023 Indian Health Service, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Audit of the Background Verification Process of Commissioned Corps Officers Assigned to Tribal and Indian Health Service Health Programs Office of Audit Services WA-24-0008 (W-00-24-59486) 2025