Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Health and Human Services
| Report Type |
Reports and Testimonies |
| Report Date |
May 17, 2023 |
| Release Date |
May 17, 2023 |
| Report No. |
GAO-23-106467 |
Summary:
What GAO Found
In May 2022, GAO identified 56 priority recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since then, HHS has implemented 12 of those recommendations. For example, it has taken steps to promote timely referral to law enforcement when a crime against a nursing home resident is suspected and to focus additional resources on improving oversight in Medicaid managed care. In addition to the 12 priority recommendations HHS implemented, GAO removed two priority recommendations related to Medicaid and one priority recommendation related to supply chain constraints during the pandemic because they no longer warranted priority attention.
In April 2023, GAO identified four additional priority recommendations, bringing the total number of open priority recommendations to 45.
These recommendations involve the following seven areas:
COVID-19 response and other public health emergency preparedness;
Public health and human services program oversight;
Food and Drug Administration oversight;
Medicaid program;
Medicare program;
Improper payments in Medicaid and Medicare; and
Health information technology and cybersecurity.
Implementing these priority recommendations could help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of key federal health care programs and funding.
Why GAO Did This Study
Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.
For more information, contact Jessica Farb at (202) 512-7114 or FarbJ@gao.gov.
« Return to search Government Accountability Office reports
