Accession Number:

AD1151730

Title:

Veterans' Health Care Budget: Better Labeling of Services and More Detailed Information Could Improve the Congressional Budget Justification

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Emrey-Arras, Melissa
• Fantone, Denise
• Henn, Carol
• Wolf, Melissa
• Edwards, Amber
• Wulff, Katherine
• Jayant, Tara
• Grossman, Lauren
• Musselwhite, James
• Papasian, Melanie
• Probst, Leah
• Saunders, Cindy

Report Date:

2012-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

21

Abstract:

The VA operates one of the largest health care delivery systems in the nation. Within VA, VHA provides a range of health care services for eligible veterans, such as primary care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and nursing home care. In the past, VHA received medical care funds primarily through a single appropriations account. However, to provide better oversight and receive a more accurate accounting of funds, in 2004, Congress established a new three appropriations account structure. GAO was asked to 1 describe the relationship between VHAs appropriations account structure and VAs development of the budget request and 2 examine how VA presents information about the three VHA appropriations accounts in its CBJ. To conduct this work GAO reviewed VA budget policy documents, VAs fiscal year 2009-2013 CBJs, prior GAO work on budget formulation at VA, and interviewed VHA budget officials.

Descriptors:

• health services
• congress
• united states government
• department of veterans affairs
• health care
• united states
• information systems
• mental health
• budget estimates
• financial management
• governments
• hospitals
• veterans health
• electronic mail
• health
• house of representatives
• accountability

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]