Does the U.S. Federal Government utilize Mystery Shoppers?

I've read articles while doing web searches that the federal government has used shoppers in such industries as healthcare to evaluate if certain business entitities are within regulatory compliance. One particular law that comes to mind is Sarbanes-Oxley (SARBOX).

If so, what types of industries has the federal government employed mystery shoppers as private contractors in evaluating certain businesses? This of course goes years prior of the current administration.

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Certainly healthcare is shopped by its regulators, but it is done so through MSPs, not directly. I have also seen some shops assisting inspectors to make certain that previous offenders are now disposing of sensitive information properly. I don't believe the the Feds hire mystery shoppers directly but rather go through established companies.

As for Sarbaes-Oxley, that pertains to corporate accounting practices and is not something where your 'man on the street' shopper would be able to determine anything at all.

HHS has contracted with a consortium of three companies to use ICs to do what amount to business verifications for sites that are getting Medicare and Medicade payments for services to recipients in those programs. The company that is managing this part of their contract has posted on the Job Board here, possibly even within the last 10 days or so. This is a congressionally mandated effort, btw.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I do Post Office shops for an MSC that contrats with the US Postal service which ios part of the Federal Government. That is the only one I know of.

Since another thread says the govt owns the Red Roof Inn now, perhaps they will start mystery shopping them!

The government's ownership of Red Roof Inn is the result of a bailout which included companies in foreclosure. I doubt they will start shopping them as much as it might be needed.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

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Does the U.S. Federal Government utilize Mystery Shoppers?

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