HHS-OIG Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations (2016)

This document, entitled the Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations (Compendium), is a core publication of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG). In this edition, we focus on the top 25 unimplemented recommendations that, on the basis of OIG’s professional opinion, would most positively impact HHS programs in terms of cost savings and/or quality improvements and should, therefore, be prioritized for implementation. The recommendations come from OIG audits and evaluations, performed pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act), as amended. The Appendix of the Compendium includes a comprehensive list of significant unimplemented recommendations from OIG. The Compendium constitutes OIG’s response to a specific requirement of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (section 5(a)(3)). It identifies significant recommendations described in previous Semiannual Reports to Congress with respect to problems, abuses, or deficiencies for which corrective actions have not been completed. The 2016 edition also responds to a requirement associated with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, directing OIG to report its top unimplemented recommendations that, on the basis of the professional opinion of OIG, would best protect the integrity of HHS programs if implemented. The recommendations represent opportunities to achieve expected impact through improvements in program effectiveness and efficiency and to better ensure quality of care and safety of beneficiaries in fiscal year (FY) 2016 and beyond. Each of the top 25 unimplemented recommendations is linked to our Top Management and Performance Challenges. Annually, OIG prepares a summary of the most significant management and performance challenges facing HHS, including challenges that reflect continuing vulnerabilities that OIG has identified for HHS over recent years as well as new and emerging issues. In this publication, the top 25 unimplemented recommendations are generally grouped by the underlying program or operation area or area of legislation/regulation. However, they are not internally ranked and do not reflect relative priority among the 25.

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