Accession Number:

AD1166948

Title:

Veterans Affairs: Sustained Leadership Needed to Address High-Risk Issues

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Testimony]

Corporate Author:

United States Government Accountability Office

Personal Author(s):

• Dodaro, Gene L

Report Date:

2019-05-22

Pagination or Media Count:

39

Abstract:

VA is responsible for providing benefits and services to veterans, including health care, disability compensation, and various types of financial assistance. In fiscal year 2019, VA received a total budget of 201.1 billion and a discretionary budget of 86.6billionthe largest in VAs historyto carry out its mission. GAO, along with the VA Inspector General and other entities, continues to identify significant deficiencies in VAs governance structures and operationsall of which can affect the care provided to our nations veterans. This testimony focuses on the status of VAs efforts to address GAOs high-risk designations and open GAO recommendations in the following areas VA health care, acquisition management, and disability claims workloads and benefit eligibility criteria, among other areas. It is primarily based on GAOs March 2019 high-risk update and a body of work that spans more than a decade.

Descriptors:

• congress
• information systems
• social media
• united states government
• business administration
• delivery of health care
• health services
• management personnel
• department of veterans affairs
• employment
• health care
• medical personnel
• organizational structure
• department of defense
• health informatics
• procurement
• social networking services

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]