Question

The federal agency charged with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and 300 other Health and Human Services programs is the _________.

1) Department of Health and Human Services
2) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
3) Office of Inspector General
4) Federal Bureau of Investigation

Answer 1

The Office of Inspector General is the federal agency responsible for combating waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and other HHS programs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The federal agency charged with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and 300 other Health and Human Services programs is the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG is an integral part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is tasked with combating inefficient and unlawful activities within HHS programs. Its responsibilities also include promoting efficiency and enforcing laws against fraud.

In addition to OIG's oversight, other entities such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administer the programs, while agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may also investigate healthcare-related crimes. However, it's the OIG that specifically has the mission of protecting the integrity of Department of Health and Human Services as well as the well-being of program beneficiaries.