Veterans' Health Care Budget: Better Labeling of Services and More Detailed Information Could Improve the Congressional Budget Justification
Abstract
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- AD1151730
Entities
People
- Amber Edwards
- Carol Henn
- Cindy Saunders
- Denise Fantone
- James Musselwhite
- Katherine Wulff
- Lauren Grossman
- Leah Probst
- Melanie Papasian
- Melissa Emrey-arras
- Melissa Wolf
- Tara Jayant
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office