Veterans' Health Care Budget: Better Labeling of Services and More Detailed Information Could Improve the Congressional Budget Justification
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) creates its budget request through its Enrollee Health Care Projection Model (EHCPM) using data from systems designed for the former single-account structure. These systems do not explicitly consider the three appropriations accounts: Medical Services, Medical Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities. According to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) officials, VHA formulates its budget based on the single appropriations account, in part, because the systems to formulate the request were in place prior to 2004, which was when the three-account structure was established. VA then presents the information in the Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) by taking the data developed by the EHCPM and then, based on historical percentages and future projections, assigning the requested amounts to the three appropriations accounts.
The information about VA's health care accounts in its CBJ can be difficult to follow because information is not displayed consistently across the three medical care appropriations accounts. This is due to inconsistent labeling and varying levels of detail among the three appropriations accounts throughout the justification. VHA officials stated that inconsistent labeling in the CBJ's tables was inadvertent. With respect to varying levels of detail among the three appropriations accounts, VHA officials said that the administrative and facilities costs for some programs are relatively small compared to the Medical Services costs. Thus they are not displayed for all three accounts. However, in at least one instance, the amount of administrative and facilities costs not shown was about 31 percent--a total of $1.05 billion--of the program's cost. Finally, VA presents several summary tables that highlight program costs; however, information on how most of these costs break down across the three accounts cannot be found in the CBJ. The lack of such account-level information can make it more difficult for congressional decision makers to make appropriations decisions and to conduct oversight.
Why GAO Did This Study
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 VHA's appropriations account structure and VA's 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, VA's fiscal year 2009-2013 CBJs, prior GAO work on budget formulation at VA, and interviewed VHA budget officials.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that VA label health care services consistently so it is clear what services are being referred to across appropriations accounts. GAO also recommends that VA further consult with congressional decision makers when determining what detailed information related to appropriations accounts should be presented--and how-- in its CBJ. VA generally agrees with GAO's conclusions and concurs with GAO's recommendations. VA stated what actions it will take to implement the recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | To improve the clarity and usefulness of information presented in VA's congressional budget justifications that support the President's budget request for VA health care, the Secretary of Veterans should label health care services consistently so it is clear what services, such as mental health, are being referred to across appropriations accounts. |
In its fiscal year 2014 budget justification, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) used the same label for mental health, inpatient, and other services across all three medical care appropriations accounts, which it had not previously done. In doing so, VA improved both the clarity and usefulness of the information included in its budget justification.
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| Department of Veterans Affairs | To improve the clarity and usefulness of information presented in VA's congressional budget justifications that support the President's budget request for VA health care, the Secretary of Veterans should further consult with congressional decision makers to determine what detailed information related to the three appropriations accounts should be presented, and how, in its congressional budget justification. |
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) officials worked with Appropriations Committee staff to determine what level of detail should be provided for the three appropriations accounts. As a result, VHA did expand the Summary of Obligations by Functional Area, Medical Support and Compliance from three categories overall categories (VA Medical Centers, VISNs and Other Field Activities; VHA Central Office; and National Consolidated Activities) to 12 categories (VAMCs and Other Field Activities; VISN Headquarters; VHA Central Office; Consolidated Patient Account Centers; Office of Informatics and Analytics; Health Administration Center; Employee Education Service Center; VHA Service Center; Health Resource Center; Health Eligibility Center; Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacies; and National Center for Patient Safety). This provides Congress with the information they find useful for decision making.
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