“Why GAO Did This Study
Priority recommendations are open GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/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…”
“What GAO Found
In April 2018, GAO identified 57 priority open recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since then, HHS has implemented 13 of those recommendations by, for example, improving the transparency of the process for reviewing and approving spending limits for Medicaid demonstrations. In addition to the 13 recommendations HHS implemented, GAO removed the priority designation from two recommendations because they were either superseded by new priority recommendations or became a lower priority due to recent policy changes.
In March 2019, GAO identified 12 additional priority recommendations for HHS, bringing the total number to 54. These recommendations involve improving
- the Medicare program’s payment policy and design;
- oversight, accountability, and transparency of Medicaid spending;
- guidance, assessments, and collaboration to reduce improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid;
- security of health information technology…”
Read the full 35-page report here.
Source: Priority Open Recommendations for HHS – April 8, 2019. GAO.
