The Government Accountability Office is calling on the Veterans Health Administration to implement four recommendations to enhance its oversight capabilities and ensure the delivery of quality healthcare to veterans.
The recommendations are part of a GAO report that was publicly released on Monday, in which the agency noted that VHA had previously faced challenges in overseeing veterans healthcare. These concerns prompted GAO to add Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare to its High-Risk List in 2015.
Full Implementation of Leading Risk Management Practices
First, GAO says its six leading practices for managing risk should be fully implemented by VHA’s Office of Integrity and Compliance, which works to implement an agencywide approach to understanding the combined impact of various risks to VHA’s mission. In its report, GAO noted that the office had only partially implemented these six practices, and that full implementation would enable VHA to “better respond to risks that could potentially interfere with the timeliness and quality of veterans’ health care.”
Clearer Definition of Internal Audit Function
Second, the purpose of VHA’s internal audit function should be clearly defined in the form of an updated policy directive for the Office of Internal Audit, which was established in 2016 to provide VHA leadership with information regarding how well various aspects of its healthcare system are working. GAO noted in its report that the office had an unclear reporting structure and oversight role, and so an updated policy directive should also address these deficiencies.
Enhanced Monitoring and Recommendation Capabilities
Third, VHA should bolster the monitoring capabilities of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee, which was established to serve as the body that would govern VHA’s oversight. GAO noted, however, that from fiscal years 2021 through 2024, the committee did not review relevant oversight findings. Neither did the committee provide recommendations that might bring about system-wide improvements, which is also part of its function. The committee’s ability to offer such recommendations should also be enhanced.
Workforce Plan Needed
Fourth, a workforce plan should be developed for VHA’s oversight offices. Such a plan should be based on the number of people required for the offices to effectively carry out their compliance, risk management, internal audit and medical investigations functions.
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