Health Care Funding: Federal Obligations to and Funds Received by Certain Organizations Involved in Health-Related Services, 2016 through 2018
Fast Facts
We reviewed federal funding provided to various organizations, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and International Planned Parenthood Federation. The organizations included in our review provide health-related services, including services related to family planning and sexual and reproductive health.
In total, these organizations received almost $16 billion through Department of Health and Human Services or U.S. Agency for International Development grants or cooperative agreements from 2016 through 2018. Federally Qualified Health Centers received nearly all of the funds.
Highlights
What GAO Found
GAO reviewed federal funding provided to various organizations that offer health-related services, such as voluntary family planning and activities related to the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDs. In total, the organizations in our review received almost $16 billion through grants or cooperative agreements from the Department of Health and Human Services or U.S. Agency for International Development from 2016 through 2018; nearly all of this funding was received by federally qualified health centers. (See table.)
Reported Amounts of Funds Received through Federal Grants or Cooperative Agreements by Organizations in GAO’s Review, 2016-2018
| Dollars in millions | ||||
| Federal agency | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Total |
| Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | ||||
| Federally qualified health centers (FQHC) | 4,891.03 | 5,251.93 | 5,291.81 | 15,434.77 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) | 94.86 | 106.12 | 103.51 | 304.49 |
| International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) | 2.30 | 2.05 | 1.20 | 5.55 |
| Marie Stopes International (MSI) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total HHS | 4,988.19 | 5,360.10 | 5,396.52 | 15,744.81 |
| U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) | ||||
| FQHC | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| PPFA | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| IPPF | 2.13 | 5.48 | 7.80 | 15.41 |
| MSI | 36.64 | 34.20 | 15.62 | 86.46 |
| Total USAID | 38.77 | 39.68 | 23.42 | 101.87 |
| Total (HHS and USAID) | 5,026.96 | 5,399.78 | 5,419.94 | 15,846.68 |
Source: GAO analysis of HHS, PPFA and USAID, data. | GAO-21-188R
We provided a draft of this report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the USAID Administrator for comment. HHS did not have any comments. USAID provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate.
GAO is not making any recommendations.
Why GAO Did This Study
In order to achieve their programmatic goals, federal agencies provide funding to various organizations that, in turn, use those funds to implement programs and activities aligned with those goals. For example, federal agencies may award funding through grants or cooperative agreements for programs. The organizations that are awarded the funding receive and spend the funds over a period of time.
GAO was asked to report on federal funding for certain organizations that provide health-related services. This report describes the extent of federal funding through grants and cooperative agreements for federally qualified health centers, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and Marie Stopes International from 2016 through 2018. GAO obtained and reviewed information on federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International Development—the primary sources of federal funds to the organizations in our review. GAO also obtained available information from each of the organizations.
For more information, contact James Cosgrove at 202-512-7114 or cosgrovej@gao.gov.