The D.C. Office of the Inspector General is investigating the Department of Health’s senior deputy director, Carlos Cano, after receiving complaints from individuals inside the agency regarding contracts and time and attendance reports.
IG spokesman Austin Andersen confirmed the investigation, but added that “law enforcement agencies are prohibited from discussing the details of investigations.”
What happened to transparency?
Cano is a major figure in the health department. He’s responsible for the Community Health Administration, which includes more than 200 employees, who either operate or provide oversight for more than 50 federally and locally funded programs. Among other things, the CHA focuses on improving the city’s infant mortality rate, preventing childhood lead poisoning, and enhancing access to quality of health care for school-age children.
DOH sources say the IG is looking into whether Cano, who joined the agency in 2005, violated procurement regulations regarding the awarding of sole source contracts. Investigators are also reviewing allegations that Cano submitted invoices for pay he is not entitled to receive.
While those allegations remain unsubstantiated, they are not insignificant. They are circulating around the agency and have caused concern among some DOH employees.
Cano couldn’t be reached for comment. But, agency spokeswoman Holiday Johnson confirmed that he knows about the investigation. She didn’t provide a response to the specific allegations.
“A due diligence process is in order with any case,” Johnson said in an e-mail to me. “Any speculation at this point without having all the details is not only unfair to the individuals involved, but could affect the outcome of the investigation.”
Documents provided to me by the Office of Contracting and Procurement indicate during fiscal 2008, which began Oct. 1, 2007, and ended Sept. 30, 2008, Cano’s division spent slightly more than $10 million on contracting for goods and services. This fiscal year — which began Oct. 1, 2008 — the division has spent more than $29 million on various purchases.
In 2007, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty selected Cano to temporarily lead the DOH while a national search was conducted for a permanent director. Praise for Cano was effusive. Fenty called him a “great asset.”
This week mayoral spokeswoman Mafara Hobson declined to discuss the IG’s investigation: “At this time we can’t comment.
But the mayor has been committed to ensuring the agency is operating as efficiently as possible. [He] awaits the results of the investigation to see whether further action is needed.”
The problem with all of this is that even after the investigation is concluded, the IG may not release his report.
“In general, it’s rare that investigation reports are placed on Web sites,” said Andersen. “But a summary of closed investigations are available in the annual report.”
That’s not enough. The entire report should be made readily available to the public.
