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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sexual Abuse Prevention

Report Child/Sexual Abuse within the IHS

The Indian Health Service has implemented extensive measures to promote and enhance patient safety and accountability. For contractors, patients or others outside of the IHS health system who have any concerns about IHS staff conduct, please call 1-855-SAFE-IHS or submit a report online. For IHS employees who suspect child or sexual abuse anywhere within the IHS, there are 5 steps you must take:

Immediately:

  1. Call your local child protective and/or law enforcement authorities.
  2. Call the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
  3. Contact the supervisor. If a supervisor was involved in the incident, contact the next person in the chain of command.

Same day:

  1. Call the IHS Hotline at 1-855-SAFE-IHS (1-855-723-3447) or submit a report online Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .

Within five days:

  1. Document the report in the IHS Incident Reporting System. If you are not familiar, ask the IHS Hotline how to access this system.

How much evidence do you need to report?

Report any abuse that you witness, hear about or suspect. If you’re not sure, call the IHS Hotline at 1-855-SAFE-IHS to speak to a trained professional who can do more investigating into the information you report.

Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse

The purpose of the IHS general hotline is to report fraud, waste and abuse and/or administrative mismanagement.

  1. Submit reports online to IHS
  2. Anonymous reporting if desired
  3. Telephone reports may be made to the IHS Hotline: 301-443-0658. IHS employees answer calls to this hotline on weekdays (excluding federal holidays) and callers may leave a message and someone will return their call.
  4. You may also report information through the OIG hotline at (800) HHS-TIPS, or online at TIPS.HHS.GOV OIG Hotline Operations accepts tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ programs.

What to Expect After Filing Your Complaint

Your complaint will be reviewed by an official who will determine further action. Not all complaints result in an investigation. If you have identified yourself, a reviewing official may contact you for further information. However, if you are not contacted it does not mean your complaint is not being investigated.