Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "More than 5.5 billion pounds of explosives are used each year in the United States by private sector companies and government entities. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has authority to regulate explosives and to license privately owned explosives storage facilities. After the July 2004 theft of several hundred pounds of explosives from a local government storage facility, concerns arose about vulnerability to theft. This testimony provides information about (1) the extent of explosives thefts from state and local government facilities, (2) ATF's authority to regulate and oversee state and local government storage facilities, and (3) security measures in place at selected state and local government storage facilities. This information is based on a report GAO is releasing today on these issues."

Other written product issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "A recent GAO report assessed the thoroughness of the process used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to resolve complaints of housing discrimination (GAO-06-79). As part of that study, GAO did a telephone survey, which is reproduced here, of a sample of complainants in housing discrimination cases that were investigated and closed by HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and state and local Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies from July 1 through December 31, 2004. A survey research firm under contract to GAO interviewed a random sample of 575 complainants to determine their levels of satisfaction with the thoroughness, fairness, timeliness, and outcomes of the complaint intake and investigation process. Using HUD records, GAO mailed advance letters to and subsequently called the complainants of record in 1,517 eligible cases. The response rate was 38 percent, resulting in the 575 complete interviews. The sample was allocated proportionally across three types of case closures (administrative, conciliation without determination of cause, or a determination of no cause) and responsible agency (FHEO or FHAP). Results were weighted, or statistically adjusted, to make them …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Spending on outpatient prescription drug coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries has accounted for a substantial and growing share of Medicaid program expenditures. All states and the District of Columbia have elected to include outpatient prescription drug coverage as a benefit of their Medicaid programs. Total Medicaid expenditures on outpatient prescription drugs grew from $4.6 billion (nearly 7 percent of Medicaid's total medical care expenditures) in fiscal year 1990 to $33.8 billion (13 percent of Medicaid's total medical care expenditures) in fiscal year 2003. This represented more than twice the rate of increase in total Medicaid spending from fiscal year 1990 through fiscal year 2003. Amid concerns about increasing Medicaid drug spending, focus has been drawn to the ways states pay for prescription drugs. State Medicaid programs pay pharmacies for covered outpatient prescription drugs dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)--the agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that oversees states' Medicaid programs--sets maximum payment limits for certain drugs--federal upper limits (FUL)--and provides guidelines regarding drug payment, as defined by regulation. Within these parameters, states may determine their own drug payment methodologies. …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) added a prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program, to become effective January 1, 2006. To assist Medicare beneficiaries with their prescription drug costs until the new benefit becomes available, the MMA also required the establishment of a temporary program, the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program, which began in June 2004. The drug card program is designed to offer Medicare beneficiaries access to discounts off the retail price of prescription drugs. All Medicare beneficiaries, except those receiving Medicaid drug coverage, are eligible to enroll in the drug card program. Certain low-income beneficiaries without other drug coverage qualify for an additional benefit, a transitional assistance (TA) subsidy, that can be applied toward the cost of drugs covered under the drug card program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)--the agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs--administers and oversees the drug card program. The drug cards themselves are offered and managed by private organizations, known as drug card sponsors. There are different types of drug …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "On July 25, 2005, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled "Medicare Program; Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Calendar Year 2006 Payment Rates." As part of these changes, CMS is proposing Medicare payment rates for certain hospital outpatient drugs classified for payment purposes as specified covered outpatient drugs (SCOD). The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) defined a SCOD as a drug or radiopharmaceutical used in hospital outpatient departments, covered by Medicare, and paid for individually rather than as part of a payment group with other services. With regard to SCODs, the MMA directed CMS to set 2006 payment rates equal to hospitals' average acquisition costs--the cost to hospitals of acquiring a product, net of rebates. In several related requirements, the MMA directed us to provide information on SCOD costs and CMS's proposed rates. First, we were required to conduct a survey of hospitals to obtain data on their acquisition costs of SCODs and provide information based on these data to …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses internal oversight and procurement in the United Nations (UN). The findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the UN's Oil for Food Program have rekindled long-standing concerns about internal oversight and procurement at the United Nations. In addition, the UN's 2005 World Summit called for a host of reforms, from human rights, terrorism, and peace-building to economic development and management reform. Specifically, this testimony conveys our preliminary observations on the UN's budgeting processes as it relates to the ability of the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) to perform independent and effective oversight. We will also discuss some of the UN's efforts to address problems affecting the openness and professionalism of its procurement system. We would like to emphasize that our comments reflect the preliminary results of two ongoing GAO engagements examining the UN's internal oversight and procurement services. We will issue reports covering a wide range of issues in both areas early next year."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO appeared before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on April 14, 2005, to discuss the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). This letter responds to questions for the record."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This letter responds to a Department of the Army request for our views on whether certain payment procedures included in the Defense Department's (DOD) proposed Families First Personal Property Program conform with relevant criteria in GAO's Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies. Families First is a DOD initiative to reengineer its processes for transporting household goods and personal property for its service members and civilians. Army's request is in response to a Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) recommendation that DOD seek our views specifically on whether the proposed procedures for electronic billing and payment meet the supporting documentation requirements in Title VII of GAO's Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies. While the General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for issuing federal regulations for transportation, including moves of household goods and personal property as well as agency prepayment and postpayment audit requirements for transportation payments, we are responsible for issuing fiscal guidance based on authorities in the U.S. Code. We considered DOD's proposed process of electronic billing and payment in light of our requirements established in Title VII for disbursements and related …

Other written product issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This is Appendix IV for GAO-05-454, entitled "Unfunded Mandates: Views Vary About Reform Act's Strengths, Weaknesses, and Options for Improvement.""