FederalDaily - March 9, 2007
GAO Offers Bleak Assessment of VA Claims Process
In the wake of harsh criticism of the healthcare systems that serve the nation’s military, new
testimony from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will do little to assuage concerns over the
long-term treatment of wounded war veterans. Daniel Bertoni, GAO acting director for education, workforce
and income security issues, testified March 7 before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, which had
asked GAO to review its recent work related to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) disability
claims and appeals processing. VA continues to face challenges in improving service delivery to veterans,
specifically in speeding up the process of adjudication and appeal, reducing the existing backlog of
claims and improving both the accuracy and consistency of decisions, Bertoni said. For example, as
of the end of FY 2006, rating-related compensation claims were pending an average of 127 days—16
days more than at the end of FY 2003, he said. During the same period, the inventory of rating-related
claims grew by almost half, due in part to the increased filing of claims—including those filed
by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. “Opportunities for significant performance
improvement may lie in more fundamental reform of VA’s disability compensation program,” Bertoni
said. To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-07-512T
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Grassley Bill Targets Government Credit Card Abuse
Frustrated by what they perceive as agency foot-dragging, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced
legislation that would rein in reckless and inappropriate spending on government-issued credit cards
while establishing internal safeguards for federal charge-card programs. Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley,
R-Iowa, the new bill was introduced March 7 and based on previous oversight work Grassley had done
with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO has documented abuses at DOD, the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, the Forest Service, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and others,
Grassley said. “Every time we open these GAO reports we find more outrageous spending,” Grassley
said. “The federal agencies don’t seem to be stepping up, so our legislation helps put
some common sense controls on these credit cards,” Grassley said. Joining Grassley were Sens.
Norm Coleman, R-Minn., Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.,
filed companion legislation in the House. To see more, go to: http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=5295&Month=3&Year=2007
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OPM Issues Annual Call Letter to FEHB Carriers
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda Springer March 7 issued OPM’s annual Call
Letter to healthcare carriers participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
In the letter, Springer outlined policy goals and expectations for negotiations on 2008 benefits and
premiums. Approximately 8 million federal employees, family members and retirees depend on healthcare
available through FEHB. The annual Call Letter is essentially a blueprint of priorities for participating
FEHB carriers. This year, OPM is asking carriers to commit to four administration goals: improve standards
for connecting health information technology; improve quality-of-care reporting; make available to
participants the costs of health services; and provide incentives for quality care at competitive prices.
In addition, the Call Letter encourages proposals to expand the availability of high-deductible health
plan options; improve hearing benefits for newborns and children; and close any gaps between current
adult preventive care benefits and recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Springer
said. To see more, go to: www.opm.gov/news/opm-issues-annual-call-letter-to-fehb-carriers,1156.aspx
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