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Health Care: Consultants' Billing Advice May Lead to Improperly Paid Insurance Claims (open access)

Health Care: Consultants' Billing Advice May Lead to Improperly Paid Insurance Claims

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report investigates health care consultants who conduct seminars or workshops that offer advice to health care providers on ways to enhance revenue and avoid audits or investigations. GAO attended several seminars and workshops offered by these consultants. GAO sought to determine whether the consultants were providing advice that could result in improper or excessive claims to Medicare, Medicaid, other federally funded health plans, and private health insurance carriers. GAO found that some advice was inconsistent with guidance provided by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG). Such advice could result in violations of both civil and criminal statutes."
Date: June 27, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Defense: Status of Achieving Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges (open access)

Department of Defense: Status of Achieving Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report reviews the Department of Defense's (DOD) fiscal year 2000 performance report required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and assesses the Department's progress in achieving selected outcomes that were identified as important mission areas for DOD. GAO found that shortfalls in DOD's current strategies and measures for several outcomes have led to difficulties in assessing performance in areas such as combat readiness, support infrastructure reduction, force structure needs, and the matching of resources to program spending plans. DOD's fiscal year 2002 performance plan, which has yet to be issued, provides DOD with the opportunity to address these shortfalls. On the basis of last year's analysis of DOD's fiscal year 1999 performance report and fiscal year 2001 performance plan, GAO recommended that the Department include more qualitative and quantitative goals and measures in its annual performance plan and report to gauge progress toward achieving mission outcomes. DOD has not as yet fully implemented this recommendation. GAO continues to believe that the Secretary of Defense should adopt this recommendation as it updates its strategic plan and prepares its next annual performance plan. By …
Date: June 25, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical Safety: Status of Changes to the National Fire Protection Association Code for Propane (open access)

Chemical Safety: Status of Changes to the National Fire Protection Association Code for Propane

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Liquefied petroleum gas (propane) has thousands of uses in homes, farms, and workplaces and is widely available in the United States. Although propane can be stored and handled safely, serious propane-related accidents have resulted in death and the destruction of property. At times, the efforts of local emergency personnel to respond to such accidents have been impeded by lack of hazard and safety information. This report describes (1) relevant revisions to the 1998 version of the code that were published in the 2001 version, as well as the process used to revise the code, (2) the views of key stakeholders about whether the 2001 version of the code provides local emergency response personnel with enough information to prepare for and respond to emergencies involving propane, and (3) the status of state and local government adoption of the 2001 code. The 2001 version of the NFPA code strengthens provisions of previous versions regarding information on the off-site effects of accidental propane releases. According to the nine key stakeholders interviewed by GAO, the 2001 version of the code would make more information available to local emergency response personnel. …
Date: June 15, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of the Treasury: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges (open access)

Department of the Treasury: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report reviews the Department of the Treasury's fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance report plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act. Specifically, GAO discusses Treasury's progress in addressing several key outcomes that are important to Treasury's mission. In general, GAO could not adequately determine Treasury's progress on five key outcomes because the fiscal year 2000 performance report lacked at least some measures needed to directly assess each of the outcomes. However, other information that GAO reviewed and GAO's past work suggest that Treasury may be at risk of not achieving these outcomes. In assessing Treasury's strategies, GAO identified shortcomings in its plans for each of the outcomes it reviewed. Chief among the limitations common to both the Treasury's fiscal year 1999 and 2000 performance reports was that the performance goals and measures of Treasury's agencies were not always directly reflected in the broader departmental goals, limiting the reports' usefulness in determining whether these agencies are making progress in meeting their strategic goals in general and the outcomes GAO reviewed in particular. Treasury improved the fiscal year 2000 report by …
Date: June 15, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Procurement: Better Guidance and Monitoring Needed to Assess Purchases of Environmentally Friendly Products (open access)

Federal Procurement: Better Guidance and Monitoring Needed to Assess Purchases of Environmentally Friendly Products

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The federal government buys about $200 billion worth of goods and services each year. Through its purchasing decisions, the federal government can signal its commitment to preventing pollution, reducing solid waste, increasing recycling, and stimulating markets for environmentally friendly products. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify products made with recycled waste materials or solid waste by-products and to develop guidance for purchasing these products. The act also requires procuring agencies to establish programs for purchasing them. This report examines efforts by federal agencies to (1) implementation of RCRA requirements for procuring products with recycled content and (2) the purchase of environmentally preferable and bio-based products. EPA accelerated its efforts in the 1990s to identify recycled-content products, but the status of agencies' efforts to implement the RCRA purchasing requirements for these products is uncertain. The four major procuring agencies report that, for many reasons, their procurement practices have not changed to increase their purchases of environmentally preferable and bio-based products. One reason for the lack of change is that EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture …
Date: June 22, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emergency Care: EMTALA Implementation and Enforcement Issues (open access)

Emergency Care: EMTALA Implementation and Enforcement Issues

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) in response to reports that some emergency rooms across the country had refused to treat indigent and uninsured patients or had inappropriately transferred them to other hospitals, a practice known as "patient dumping." EMTALA requires hospitals that participate in Medicare to provide a medical screening examination to any person who comes to the emergency department, regardless of the individual's ability to pay. If a hospital determines that the person has an emergency medical condition, it must provide treatment to stabilize the condition or provide for an appropriate transfer to another facility. The regional offices of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are responsible for investigating complaints of alleged violations and forwarding confirmed violations to the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) for possible imposition of civil monetary fines. The medical community has raised concerns that the implementation and enforcement of EMTALA have created burdens for hospitals and physicians, such as overcrowded emergency departments. This report reviews (1) how EMTALA has affected hospital emergency departments and …
Date: June 22, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Protection Agency: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges (open access)

Environmental Protection Agency: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report reviews the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) to assess the agency's progress in achieving selected key outcomes that are important to EPA's mission. EPA reported reasonable progress in achieving its key outcomes. Specifically, EPA reported (1) attaining air quality standards in more areas of the country and reducing emissions of toxic pollutants, (2) making strides in achieving its goal of safe and clean drinking water, (3) making progress in cleaning up hazardous waste sites, and (4) making progress in ensuring that food is free from unsafe pesticide residues. Although EPA made several improvements to its fiscal year 2000 performance report, it still falls short in providing information on crosscutting goals and measures. EPA's 2002 performance plan's goals and performance measures address some, but not all, major management challenges."
Date: June 15, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Farm Programs: Information on Recipients of Federal Payments (open access)

Farm Programs: Information on Recipients of Federal Payments

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Payments to farmers under federal farm programs have reached an historic high--over $20 billion in fiscal year 2000. Nearly half of U.S. farms are receiving payments for income or price support purposes and/or for engaging in activities such as land conservation. These payments, in total, made up almost one-half of net farm income in fiscal year 2000. Despite the annual influx of billions of federal dollars to the farm sector, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the number of farms has been declining about one percent per year, with the most notable declines in small family farms and young farmers. GAO reviewed USDA's annual surveys of U.S. farm operations--called the Agricultural Resource Management Study--and state and crop information from its Program Payments Reporting System to (1) determine the distribution of farm payments over the past decade by farm size, operators' age, state, and crop and (2) identify the major barriers that make it difficult for young people to enter farming. GAO found that in recent years, over 80 percent of farm payments have been made to large- and medium-sized farms, while small farms have …
Date: June 15, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
FASAB News, Issue 68, June-July 2001 (open access)

FASAB News, Issue 68, June-July 2001

Other written product issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO provided information on the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board's recent actions, meetings, and practices."
Date: June 1, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Customs Service: The Self-Inspection Program Shows Promise but Remains a Work in Progress (open access)

Customs Service: The Self-Inspection Program Shows Promise but Remains a Work in Progress

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Customs Service's responsibilities include collecting revenue from imports and enforcing U.S. laws and regulations, preventing the smuggling of drugs into the United States, and overseeing export compliance and money laundering issues. Customs recently began a self-inspection program (SIP) to aid in its diverse responsibilities. This report discusses (1) SIP's use as a mechanism for oversight and accountability, (2) problems related to SIP implementation, and (3) improvements and refinements underway to enhance the value of the program. GAO found that SIP is a useful mechanism for managers to identify and correct problems at the local level and to obtain more control over activities that they oversee. Implementation problems included a lack of detailed instructions on how to complete self-inspection worksheets and inadequate worksheet review by responsible officials. Customs is trying to correct deficiencies in key internal control areas."
Date: June 1, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Business Systems Modernization: Results of Review of IRS' March 2001 Expenditure Plan (open access)

Business Systems Modernization: Results of Review of IRS' March 2001 Expenditure Plan

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) submitted its fourth expenditure plan to Congress in March 2001. In the plan, IRS requested $128 million from its systems modernization appropriations account. This report (1) determines whether the plan satisfied the conditions specified in the acts, (2) determines IRS' progress in implementing modernization management controls and capabilities, and (3) provides other observations about the plan and IRS' Business Systems Modernization program. GAO found that IRS' March 2001 expenditure plan satisfies the conditions specified in the appropriations acts. IRS continues to make important progress in implementing modernization management controls and capabilities but has yet to implement a sufficiently defined version of the enterprise architecture to guide and constrain projects or employ rigorous configuration management practices. Acquiring modernized systems before having the requisite management capacity in place increases the risk of cost, schedule, and performance shortfalls."
Date: June 29, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Debt Collection: Defense Finance and Accounting Service Needs to Improve Collection Efforts (open access)

Debt Collection: Defense Finance and Accounting Service Needs to Improve Collection Efforts

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Improper payments are a long-standing problem throughout the government. The Department of Defense (DOD) has been overpaying contractors by hundreds of millions of dollars each year. For fiscal years 1994 through 1999, DOD contractors returned nearly $1.2 billion that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) had mistakenly paid them as a result of errors, such as paying the same invoice twice or misreading invoice amounts. Sometimes, however, the contractors do not promptly respond to government demands that the overpayments be returned. The Debt Management Office was created at the DFAS Columbus Center to deal with contractors that are unresponsive to the government's demands that overpayments be returned. GAO found that the Debt Management Office at DFAS Columbus is not effectively and proactively pursuing collections of debts assigned to it. Specifically, the Office is not (1) taking appropriate action to establish the validity of the debts that it receives for collection, (2) promptly issuing letters demanding payment, (3) actively communicating with contractors or resolving issues related to the debts, and (4) effectively using the Department of the Treasury's centralized debt collection programs to maximize collections and …
Date: June 29, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Subvention Demonstration: DOD's Pilot HMO Appealed to Seniors, Underscored Management Complexities (open access)

Medicare Subvention Demonstration: DOD's Pilot HMO Appealed to Seniors, Underscored Management Complexities

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This interim report reviews the implementation of the Department of Defense (DOD) Medicare Subvention Demonstration. GAO found that the demonstration sites were successful in operating Medicare managed care plans. Officials put substantial effort into meeting Medicare managed care requirements and, according to Health Care Financing Administration reviewers, were generally as successful as other new Medicare managed care plans in this regard. Most sites reached the enrollment limits they had established for retirees already covered by Medicare. DOD officials indicated that the demonstration's effect was positive. Enrollees received a broader range of services from DOD than in the past, when they got care only when space was available in DOD facilities. Officials also noted that providing more comprehensive care to seniors helped sharpen the skills of military clinical staff, which contributed to their readiness for supporting combat or other military missions. Some challenges encountered in the demonstration reflect larger DOD managed care issues and may have implications for DOD managed care generally. Although access to care was generally good, the demonstration experienced some problems in maintaining adequate clinical staff."
Date: June 14, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Commerce: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges (open access)

Department of Commerce: Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report reviews the Department of Commerce's fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act to assess Commerce's progress on achieving selected key outcomes. Commerce's combined performance report and performance plan is a significant improvement over its fiscal year 1999 performance report and fiscal year 2001 performance plan and addresses the recommendations made in GAO's June 2000 report. Furthermore, the report indicates that Commerce has made progress toward achieving two of the selected key outcomes. However, progress toward achieving the remaining two outcomes is unclear largely because of weaknesses related to measuring performance. Specifically, some of the measures are output-oriented, rather than outcome oriented; some measures have known limitations, which Commerce acknowledges; many of the measures used to assess performance in the past are being discontinued for the future; and Commerce plans to rely on one, narrowly focused measure to demonstrate progress for each performance goal related to these key outcomes. Furthermore, other data exist within the International Trade Administration (ITA) that could support additional measures related to these performance goals."
Date: June 15, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOD Competitive Sourcing: A-76 Program Has Been Augmented by Broader Reinvention Options (open access)

DOD Competitive Sourcing: A-76 Program Has Been Augmented by Broader Reinvention Options

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the Department of Defense's (DOD) use of the Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-76, which establishes federal policy for the performance of recurring commercial activities. DOD has been a leader among federal agencies in the use of the A-76 process and at one point planned to use the process to study more than 200,000 positions over several years. However, the number of positions planned for study has changed over time and the Department recently augmented its A-76 program with what it terms strategic sourcing. DOD has saved money through the A-76 process primarily by reducing the number of in-house positions. Yet, GAO has repeatedly found that it is extremely difficult to measure the precise amount of savings because available data has been limited and inconsistent. The lessons learned from DOD's A-76 program include the following: (1) studies have generally taken longer than initially expected, (2) studies have generally required higher costs and resources than initially projected, (3) finding and selecting functions to compete can be difficult, and (4) making premature budget cuts on the assumption of projected savings can be risky. Both government groups …
Date: June 28, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fossil Fuel R&D: Lessons Learned in the Clean Coal Technology Program (open access)

Fossil Fuel R&D: Lessons Learned in the Clean Coal Technology Program

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Coal Technology program provides cost-sharing assistance or partnerships with industry in demonstrating the commercial applications of emerging technologies, referred to as "clean coal." This testimony discusses the successes DOE has reported, some weaknesses GAO identified, and lessons learned in cost-sharing. GAO found that DOE has many examples of successes in the program, including commercialization of some technologies--the primary way DOE measures success. From a management perspective, many projects had experienced delays, cost overruns, bankruptcies, and performance problems. This program serves as an example to other cost-share programs in demonstrating how the government and the private sector can work effectively together to develop and demonstrate new technologies."
Date: June 12, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Reform: Modernization Requires Comprehensive Program View (open access)

Medicare Reform: Modernization Requires Comprehensive Program View

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Medicare faces many challenges. The overarching issue is how to sustain the program for future generations. Meeting that challenge will require difficult decisions that will affect beneficiaries, providers, and taxpayers. However, the financing issue should not obscure other important challenges. Medicare's current cost-sharing arrangements do not encourage the efficient use of services without discouraging necessary care. Moreover, the lack of catastrophic coverage can leave some beneficiaries liable for substantial Medicare expenses. Finally, some aspects of Medicare's program management are inefficient and lag behind modern private sector practices. Changes in Medicare's program management could improve both the delivery of health care to beneficiaries and the program's ability to pay providers appropriately. Some view restructuring of the relationship between parts A and B as an important element of overall Medicare reform. Fundamentally, assessing the program as a whole is an important first step in addressing Medicare's challenges. Solutions to many of these challenges could be crafted without restructuring. However, restructuring may provide opportunities to implement desired reforms--with or without unifying the Hospital Insurance and Supplemental Medical Insurance trust funds--while undoubtedly raising issues that will have to be considered."
Date: June 14, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electronic Government: Selected Agency Plans for Implementing the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (open access)

Electronic Government: Selected Agency Plans for Implementing the Government Paperwork Elimination Act

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) requires that by 2003 federal agencies provide the public the option of submitting, maintaining, and disclosing required information--such as employment records, tax forms, and loan applications--electronically, instead of on paper. In October 2000, federal agencies submitted GPEA implementation plans to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is responsible for executive branch oversight of GPEA. The plans submitted by the the Department of the Treasury and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally provide the kind of information that was specified in OMB's July 2000 guidance. However, the Department of Defense's (DOD) plan did not describe the department's overall GPEA strategy and, in some cases, the data provided for specific information collections may be inaccurate, incomplete or duplicative. Officials at all three agencies said that they faced challenges in complying with GPEA, particularly with regard to implementing adequate security assurances for sensitive electronic transactions and in planning for and implementing computer network infrastructures. Furthermore, OMB will be challenged in providing oversight of agency GPEA activities because the plans submitted by the agencies go not document key strategic actions, nor do they specify …
Date: June 21, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Rulemaking: Procedural and Analytical Requirements at OSHA and Other Agencies (open access)

Federal Rulemaking: Procedural and Analytical Requirements at OSHA and Other Agencies

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the procedural and analytical rulemaking requirements applicable to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other federal regulatory agencies. GAO found that the rulemaking requirements that have been placed on OSHA and other agencies are voluminous and require a wide range of procedural, consultative, and analytical actions on the part of the agencies. Federal agencies sometimes take years to develop final rules, and the requirements are not as effective as expected or as they could be. This lack of effectiveness can be traced to how the requirements have been implemented and the requirements themselves."
Date: June 14, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
District of Columbia: Oversight in the Post-Control Board Period (open access)

District of Columbia: Oversight in the Post-Control Board Period

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Although the District of Columbia, the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, and Congress have achieved an enormous accomplishment in restoring the District to financial viability, many of the challenges the District faced in the past continue. The District and Congress need current, reliable information about the District's financial condition and developing trends in order to promptly respond to any pressures or warning signs that could indicate that future difficulties lie ahead. Toward that end, the District must ensure that its new financial management system is effectively implemented and provides decision makers with reliable and timely data. In addition, since 1995, Congress has put in place a number of reporting requirements to help provide the financial, planning, and performance information that it needs to conduct effective oversight and make decisions. Congress may wish to consider additional mechanisms to ensure that it and the District have the information needed to help the District maintain its financial viability and address its current and emerging challenges. Such mechanisms must be considered and implemented within a context that seeks to balance two sets of values: the overriding importance of Home Rule and …
Date: June 8, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Request: U.S. General Accounting Office (open access)

Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Request: U.S. General Accounting Office

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses GAO's achievements in fiscal year 2000, its current plans and future challenges, and its budget request for fiscal year 2002. Financial benefits to taxpayers as a result of GAO's work totaled more than $23 billion in fiscal year 2000--a $61 return on every dollar invested in GAO. During fiscal year 2001, GAO continued to focus its work on the major issues facing Congress, such as Social Security, and worked with leaders in the House and the Senate to strengthen congressional oversight. GAO requested a budget of about $430 million in fiscal year 2002. This funding level will allow GAO to maintain a staff of 3,275 full-time equivalent employees. In the coming fiscal year, GAO plans to increasingly emphasize issues that are of significant congressional and public concern and to take steps internally to address its two major management challenges--human capital and information technology."
Date: June 26, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans' Employment and Training Service: Further Changes Needed to Strengthen Its Performance Measurement System (open access)

Veterans' Employment and Training Service: Further Changes Needed to Strengthen Its Performance Measurement System

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) runs programs and activities designed to help veterans obtain employment and training assistance. Recently, policymakers have advocated changes to the structure and administration of the VETS program and the way it assesses program performance. This testimony discusses VETS' efforts to improve its performance measurement system. VETS has proposed changes to its performance measurement system that will move it closer to implementing an effective accountability system. However, more changes are needed so that VETS can effectively determine whether its programs and services are fulfilling its mission. VETS continues to send a mixed message to states about what services to provide and to whom. In addition, two of the proposed measures may provide nearly identical results, and neither helps VETS to monitor whether more intensive services are being provided to veterans or whether these services are successful. Furthermore, through its planning documents and proposed performance measures, VETS continues to inconsistently identify the groups of veterans that it wants states to help. This testimony summarizes a May report (GAO-01-580)."
Date: June 7, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Licensing Hydropower Projects: Better Time and Cost Data Needed to Reach Informed Decisions About Process Reforms (open access)

Licensing Hydropower Projects: Better Time and Cost Data Needed to Reach Informed Decisions About Process Reforms

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Hydropower projects generate about 10 percent of all electricity produced in the United States. Federally owned and operated hydropower projects generate about half of this amount, while about 1,000 nonfederally owned and operated hydropower projects, which are licensed by the federal government, generate the rest. Some licensees and other participants in the licensing process have expressed concern that obtaining a license takes too long and costs too much. In response, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) established an alternative licensing process, and other federal agencies undertook reforms to streamline the licensing process. However, these reforms did not quell the concerns. In November 2000, Congress directed FERC to review the policies, procedures, and regulations on the licensing of nonfederal hydropower projects to determine how to reduce the time and costs associated with obtaining a license. This testimony discusses (1) the process used by FERC to issue licenses to build and to operate nonfederal hydroelectric power projects and (2) FERC's congressionally mandated report on hydroelectric licensing policies, procedures, and regulations."
Date: June 27, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Management: Current and Future Challenges (open access)

Medicare Management: Current and Future Challenges

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Medicare is a popular program that millions of Americans depend on for covering their essential health needs. However, the management of the program has fallen short of expectations because it has not always appropriately balanced or satisfied the needs of beneficiaries, providers, and taxpayers. For example, stakeholders expect that Medicare will price services prudently; that providers will be treated fairly and paid accurately; and that beneficiaries will clearly understand their program options and will receive services that meet quality standards. In addition, there are expectations that the agency will be prepared to implement restructuring or added benefits in the context of Medicare reform. Today's Medicare, although successful in some areas, may not be able to meet these expectations effectively without further congressional attention to its multiple missions, capacity, and flexibility. The program will also need to do its part by implementing a performance-based approach that articulates priorities, documents resource needs, and holds managers accountable for accomplishing program goals."
Date: June 19, 2001
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library