OIG: Top HHS management challenges include information security, data integrity

Jessica Kim Cohen -

The HHS Office of Inspector General released its semiannual report to Congress detailing the top management and performance challenges facing HHS.

The report is based on OIG's analysis of a six-month period ending March 31, 2017. Two challenges facing the department include data integrity and information security. HHS maintains large-scale datasets related to federal health insurance, public health and its beneficiaries. However, it struggles to effectively use this data to ensure quality of care and to prevent improper payments, the OIG report states.

The department must also improve the methods it uses to protect the data it collects, according to OIG. During the six-month period, OIG officials worked to enhance IT security at HHS through network and web application penetration testing, which the office is continuing to evaluate.

Other top management and performance challenges at HHS include enhancing safety and quality of care; improving the efficiency of program operations; reducing improper payments; fostering prudent payment policies; and fighting fraud in its programs.

Click here to view the full report.

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