The OIG has added quite a few new items to its work plan for October. Here’s the scoop.

Every week we hear of some cybersecurity attack or breach. With COVID, many healthcare providers have increased their use of telehealth technology to evaluate patients. With this increased use comes increased cybersecurity risk. The OIG plans to audit the Indian Health Service (IHS).

We’ve watched the COVID pandemic take lives, no group more vulnerable than residents of nursing homes. Since May 2020, nursing homes have been required to report specific COVID data to an infection surveillance system managed by the CDC known as the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The OIG plans to study and evaluate the CDC processes for nursing home reporting of COVID data to the NHSN.

Disparities exist among communities of color and other disadvantaged groups. The OIG plans to study disparities in patient safety and adverse events. The ultimate goal? Discover underlying issues associated with these poorer outcomes to find solutions.

Download our free eBrief, "The OIG Work Plan Updates: Adverse Event Toolkit, and Covid Data Reporting," to see all of the items added to the work plan for October 2021, including:

• Cybersecurity Audit of IHS
• COVID Data Reporting by Nursing Homes
• Adverse Event Toolkit
• Disparities and Adverse Events