OIG Work Plan: Implications for Skilled Nursing Facilities

Each October 1 begins a new federal fiscal year and with the new year comes the publication by the Office of Inspector General ("OIG") of its Work Plan for the coming year. The OIG's Work Plan contains a detailed listing of the projects, audits and other matters to which the OIG will devote its time and attention during the next twelve months. As such, the Work Plan provides insight into issues the OIG deems to be particularly important. Accordingly, the Work Plan is a valuable resource since it provides a "heads up" as to the OIG's focus during the coming year.

The Work Plan for fiscal year 2004 repeated certain themes from prior Work Plans and contains some new areas of attention. In general, issues related to quality of care continue to be a significant focus on the government.