Whom may a case be referred to for civil or criminal prosecution?

Whom may a case be referred to for civil or criminal prosecution?

• A. Office of the Inspector General / Office of Investigations
• B. Centers for Disease Control
• C. National Institutes of Health
• D. Departamento de Salud

Answer: (A)

Enforcement action in federal health programs comes from the Office of Inspector General, specifically its Office of Investigations. This unit conducts the fraud and abuse investigations and determines when a matter should be referred for civil or criminal enforcement. If a referral is made, it typically goes to the Department of Justice (through a U.S. Attorney’s Office) for prosecution or civil action. The other options are not responsible for prosecuting cases: the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health are focused on public health and research, not enforcement actions; Departamento de Salud is a state or local health department and does not handle federal prosecutions.

Enforcement action in federal health programs comes from the Office of Inspector General, specifically its Office of Investigations. This unit conducts the fraud and abuse investigations and determines when a matter should be referred for civil or criminal enforcement. If a referral is made, it typically goes to the Department of Justice (through a U.S. Attorney’s Office) for prosecution or civil action.

The other options are not responsible for prosecuting cases: the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health are focused on public health and research, not enforcement actions; Departamento de Salud is a state or local health department and does not handle federal prosecutions.