Author Archive

​​​​​​​David Hilzenrath

Oversight

The FDA calls them ‘recalls,’ yet the targeted medical devices often remain in use

When it comes to medical devices, recalls can include not only “removals,” in which the device is removed from where it is used or sold, but also “corrections,” which address the problem in the field.

Oversight

10 doctors on an FDA panel reviewing Abbott heart device had financial ties with the company

Some familiar with the process said the payments should have been disclosed in the interest of transparency.

Oversight

VIP health system for top U.S. officials risked jeopardizing care for soldiers

Some facilities “provided access to care for executive medicine patients over active-duty military patients that had acute needs,” according to the Pentagon’s inspector general.

Oversight

Social Security clawbacks hit a million more people than the agency chief told Congress

At issue is the scope of a problem that has terrified many Social Security beneficiaries and plunged them into financial distress.

Oversight

In Congress, calls mount for Social Security to address clawbacks

The Social Security Administration routinely sends notices to beneficiaries saying they received benefits to which they weren’t entitled — and demanding they pay the government back, often within 30 days.

Management

Under fire, Social Security chief vows ‘top-to-bottom’ review of payment clawbacks

House members faulted the agency for issuing billions of dollars of payments in error and then, often much later, demanding that beneficiaries pay the money back.

Management

COVID relief payments triggered feds to demand money back from Social Security recipients

House and Senate members have called for action on problems at the Social Security Administration.

Oversight

Social Security overpayments draw scrutiny and outrage from members of Congress

SSA recovered $4.7 billion of overpayments during the 2022 fiscal year but ended that year with $21.6 billion of overpayments still uncollected, according to a November 2022 report by department’s inspector general.