A corporate integrity agreement (CIA) is frequently a part of civil settlements between the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (OIG) and a health care provider or entity, including pharmaceutical companies. By entering into the CIA, a provider or entity agrees to various obligations in exchange for the OIG's agreement that it will not seek to exclude the provider or entity from participation in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal health care programs.

Purpose of a Corporate Integrity Agreement

The purpose of a CIA is twofold: to improve the quality of health care and promote integrity and compliance with health care regulations. They are not meant to be punitive. They are but instead intended to drive compliant behavior and set minimum standards by which a health care provider or entity should be held accountable. An organization wishing to settle a government investigation is not guaranteed the option of a CIA and settlement. Rather it is at the discretion of the OIG whether to agree to a settlement with a provider or entity and negotiate a CIA.