Weekend Update / Miscellany

• The OPM Inspector General's semi-annual report to Congress for the period ending March 31, 2009, is posted here. This report discusses the Inspector General's audits of FEHB plans and his anti-fraud efforts against providers and others.

• OPM published in the June 11 Federal Register its list of medically underserved states for 2010. There was no change from 2009. This action is required in order to implement Section 890(m)(2) of the FEHB Act which established special coverage rules in those states.

• Vangent Inc. announced on June 9 that it was awarded a contract from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to provide Open Season Services as part of the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.

• Congress enacted a law to permit the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. The House passed the Senate version thereby by-passing the need for a conference committee which might have considered various federal retirement policy changes discussed in this Govexec.com article. The tobacco regulation law does include "several measures expanding federal employees' options under the Thrift Savings Plan."

• The President will give a major health care reform speech before the American Medical Association tomorrow. In yesterday's radio address, the President proposed $313 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts over 10 years. This proposal elicited howls from affected provider groups, including hospitals, prescription benefits managers, and medical device manufacturers according to the AP.