Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 2.djvu/963

 PUBLIC LAW 94-505—OCT. 15, 1976

90 STAT. 2431

wise, concerning fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations administered or financed by the Department, to recommend corrective action concerning such problems, abuses, and deficiencies, and to report on the progress made in implementing such corrective action. (b) In carrying out the responsibilities specified in subsection (a)(1), the Inspector General shall have authority to approve or disapprove the use of outside auditors or to take other appropriate steps to insure the competence and independence of such auditors. (c) In carrying out the duties and responsibilities provided by this Act, the Inspector General shall give particular regard to the activities of the Comptroller General of the United States with a view to avoiding duplication and insuring effective coordination and cooperation, (d) The Inspector General shall establish within his office an appropriate and adequate staff with specific responsibility for devoting their full time and attention to antifraud and antiabuse activities relating to the medicaid, medicare, renal disease, and maternal and child health programs. Such staff shall report to the Deputy. REPORTS

SEC. 204. (a) The Inspector General shall, not later than March 31 42 USC 3524. of each year, submit a report to the Secretary and to the Congress summarizing the activities of the Office during the preceding calendar year. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to— (1) an indentification and description of significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations of the Department disclosed by such activities; (2) a description of recommendations for corrective action made by the Office with respect to significant problems, abuses, oideficiencies identified and described under paragraph (1); (3) an evaluation of progress made in implementing recommendations described in the report or, where appropriate, in previous rejjorts; and (4) a summary of matters referred to prosecutive authorities and the extent to which prosecutions and convictions have resulted. (b) The Inspector General shall make reports on a quarterly basis to the Secretary and to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress identifying any significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies concerning which the Office has made a recommendation for corrective action and on which, in the judgment of the Inspector General, adequate progress is not being made. (c) The Inspector General shall report immediately to the Secretary, and within seven calendar days thereafter to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress, whenever the Office becomes aware of particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations of the Department. The Deputy and Assistant Inspectors General shall have particular responsibility for informing the Inspector General of such problems, abuses, or deficiencies. (d) The Inspector General (A) may make such additional investigations and reports relating to the administration of the programs and operations of the Department as are, in the judgment of the Inspector General, necessary or desirable, and (B) shall provide such additional information or documents as may be requested by either House of

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