Federal Report Details Corruption at IHS

Many more stories abound of employees who are found to be repeatedly engaging in bad behavior, or illegal activity, but who face little or no disciplinary action, Dorgan said.  Between 2005 and 2010, 176 Aberdeen Area employees were placed on paid administrative leave for a period of time totaling eight years, Dorgan said.

While there are many hard working employees in the Aberdeen region, Dorgan said, "there are also poor performing employees in the system. And I am concerned that these problem employees are being allowed to wreak havoc and demoralize those who fight so hard to provide quality healthcare to our First Americans."

For example, in 2008, an investigation by the Office of Inspector General found two Aberdeen Area employees who had been excluded from participating in federally funded health programs, one because of a criminal conviction for embezzlement, said Gerald Roy, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations of the OIG.

"While still excluded, this employee was subsequently rehired by the same department within the Aberdeen Area Office where she committed her illegal acts.  The other employee was a nurse convicted of drug diversion charges," Roy said.