OIG to monitor Medicare, Medicaid IT upgrades, incentives

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for monitoring the upgrades to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) computer systems and overseeing the government stimulus program that gives incentive payments to healthcare providers who use electronic health records. OIG’s oversight includes reviewing the security of CMS systems, addressing breaches and medical identity theft, and evaluating the implementation of privacy standards. OIG will also review the use of smart card technology to reduce payment errors and monitor the progress of state Medicaid agencies in implementing incentive payments for electronic health records.