Defense Health Program: Reporting of Funding Adjustments Would Assist Congressional Oversight
Abstract
As one of the largest health care providers in the nation, the Department of Defense (DOD) has experienced many of the same challenges as the private sector health care industry - including rising costs, problems with access to care, and lack of a uniform benefit. Between fiscal years 1994 and 1998, the Congress appropriated $48.9 billion for DOD's Defense Health Program (DHP) to provide medical and dental services to active duty personnel and their families and retired military personnel. These funds were appropriated for DHP operations and maintenance (O and M) expenses. They were primarily used to deliver patient care in DOD's direct care system of service-operated military treatment facilities (MTF) or to purchase care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) and seven TRICARE managed care support (MCS) contracts. Each year, the Congress appropriates funds for DHP O and M expenses after reviewing and making adjustments to DOD's budget request. DOD's request estimates dollar requirements for the entire DHP and shows how proposed spending would be allocated among seven major health care subactivities (for example, direct care, purchased care, training) and the 34 specific program elements. After the Congress appropriates overall DHP funding, DOD allocates its appropriation among the seven DHP subactivities and the 34 program elements. These budget allocations generally align with the budget request estimates, and DOD reports the allocated amounts back to the Congress with the next fiscal year's budget request. Actual obligations, however, are separately reported two years later to the Congress with that subsequent fiscal years budget request.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- AD1152206
Entities
People
- Richard L. Hembra
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office