OIG Under Sunset Commission Review This Year

The Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) is under review by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission this year, as a part of an overall evaluation of HHSC.  OIG itself is inviting public input on its mission and performance.  Public comments are welcome until next month.

The notice is on the OIG website.

For Medicaid providers who have dealt with the OIG over the past decade, this review may represent a rare opportunity to have their experiences heard.

What the Sunset Process Is

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission was created to periodically review state agencies and determine whether they should continue to exist, be restructured, or be abolished. The review process includes staff research, public testimony, and legislative hearings before recommendations are sent to the Texas Legislature.

In other words, Sunset is one of the Legislature’s primary oversight tools. Agencies must demonstrate that they are operating effectively and serving the public interest. If not, lawmakers can require changes to their structure, authority, or operations.

The process can have real consequences. Since its creation in 1977, the Sunset Commission has recommended abolishing dozens of state agencies and restructuring many others.

Why the OIG matters to Medicaid providers

The HHSC Office of Inspector General is responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas health and human services programs, including Medicaid. The office conducts investigations, audits, inspections, and reviews to identify improper payments and enforce program rules.

For dentists and other Medicaid providers, the OIG is the agency that often investigates allegations of overbilling or fraud.

Medicaid dentistry now treated fairly

In the bad old years, we expressed our concerns about the agency under former IG Doug Wilson and Jack Stick.  Wilson was sacked and Stick resigned.  Hearings before the Sunset Commission had everything to do with this.

Surprisingly, since the appointment of Raymond C. Winter as IG in 2023, following his controversial 15-year tenure as head of the OIG Civil Medicaid fraud unit, with its almost myopic focus on Medicaid dentistry, our complaints and concerns about fair treatment for Medicaid dentists have faded.  An even hand has been displayed.

This may or may not be the case for others.  The current review specifically asks for input from stakeholders. For providers who believe the agency has overreached or improperly used investigative tools, it may be one of the few opportunities to present those concerns to lawmakers reviewing the agency’s future.

How to provide input to the Sunset Commission

From the OIG website: Here are several ways to provide comments and suggestions to Sunset staff on HHSC’s mission, operations and services:

• Send an email to sunset@sunset.texas.gov, with “HHSC Review” in the subject line.
• Submit comments online at www.sunset.texas.gov/input-form.
• Send a letter to Sunset Advisory Commission, Attn: HHSC, P.O. Box 13066, Austin, Texas 78711.
• Call 512-463-1300 to speak to Sadie Smeck, project manager of the HHSC review.

Please provide your comments by April 2026 to ensure that Sunset staff can fully consider your input during their review. Comments submitted before the staff report is published in October 2026 will remain confidential.

HHSC self-evaluation

One step in the Sunset review is for the agency under review to submit a self-evaluation report to the commission.  HHSC has done this, and we have included the OIG section here for your review.