Tag Archives: HHS

Podcast on Health Care Price Transparency

As consumers pay for a growing proportion of their health care, they have an increased need for information on cost and quality before receiving care, to help them plan and make informed decisions. Transparency tools from the Centers for Medicare … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on November 19, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, consumer information, consumer protection, HC, health and human services, health care, HHS, transparency, transparency tools

Responding to Infectious Diseases

Posted on November 5, 2014 by WatchBlog

Although this is the first time Ebola has been diagnosed in the United States, it’s not the first infectious disease we’ve faced. From flu and SARS, to Lyme disease and West Nile Virus, we have had opportunities to learn from … Continue reading →

Posted in About GAO, Health Care | Tagged biosurveillance, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, ebola, flexible manufacturing, flu, H1N1, HC, health, health care, HHS, HSJ, outbreak, pandemic, SARS, SI, Strategic National Stockpile, vaccinations, vaccine, virus

School Bullying and Legal Protections for Vulnerable Groups

Millions of American children and teens have been physically, verbally, relationally, or electronically bullied by their peers. Bullying can have harmful psychological, academic, and behavioral outcomes for victims. Because October is National Bullying Prevention Month, we wanted to highlight our … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on October 23, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged bully, bullying, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, civil rights, cyberbullying, demographics, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, education, EWIS, gender, HHS, Office of Civil Rights, safety, schools, sexual orientation

Flu Season Is Here!

It’s the start of fall, the leaves are starting to change color, and the days are getting shorter. But fall also means the return of seasonal influenza—it’s flu season. Getting the flu vaccine is one of the best ways you … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on October 17, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged Department of Health and Human Services, flu, flu season, HC, health and human services, health care, HHS, influenza, outpatient, supply chain, vaccination, vaccine

GAO Reports That Help Protect Vulnerable Elders

News stories about older adults whose trusted family members or other caretakers deny them food and water, leave them to live under deplorable conditions, or physically and psychologically abuse them are all too common. Neglect and abuse can often go … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on August 1, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged Adult Protective Services, agencies, APS, CFPB, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumer protection, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, elder abuse, elder financial exploitation, elderly, EWIS, federal government, guardianship, HHS, incapacitated adults, Justice, Justice Department

GAO’s Health Care Team

GAO’s workforce is organized largely by subject area, with most employees working in 1 of 14 mission teams. Today, we’ll be putting the spotlight on the Health Care team, which supports congressional oversight of federal agencies responsible for health care … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on June 27, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged Affordable Care Act, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, HC, health, health care, health insurance, HHS, Medicaid, medicare, medicine, military, military health care, mission team, PPACA, prescription drugs, private insurance, public health, VA, veterans | 2 Comments

Looking at Green Cities and Green Buildings for Earth Day

Today is the 34th annual Earth Day, and this year’s theme is “Green Cities.” To mark the occasion, let’s look at some of our work examining the federal government’s role in encouraging green building. Green building practices can create more … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on April 22, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, DOE, duplication, Earth Day, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, environment, epa, green building, HHS, HUD, interagency, NIST, nonfederal, NRE, Small Business Administration, usda, USDOT

Podcast on Electronic Health Records

The use and exchange of electronic health records among health care providers could potentially improve outcomes and quality of care for patients. GAO recently released reports on participation in electronic health records programs and HHS efforts to address information exchange … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on March 24, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged administration, EHR, electronic health records, health and human services, health care, health care providers, health systems, HHS, hospitals, podcast, telemedicine

Don’t Get Burned—Burn Awareness Week

Hot drinks, fireplaces, space heaters—as people try to beat the cold, it makes sense to ensure that they’re ready to treat potential burn injuries. That’s why the first week in February is National Burn Awareness Week, an annual observation to … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on February 5, 2014 by gao_watchblog | Tagged burn, Burn Awareness Week, burns, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community clinics, emergency preparedness, HC, health and human services, HHS, hospital beds, hospitals, mass casualty event, medical treatment, trauma

Podcast on Preventing Sexual Abuse by School Personnel

Posted on January 31, 2014 by gao_watchblog

Sexual abuse by school personnel is a matter of particular concern because of the trust placed in school employees. Listen to our podcast with Director Kay Brown on GAO’s recent report on federal, state and school district efforts to prevent … Continue reading →

Posted in About GAO, Podcast | Tagged abuse prevention, background checks, child abuse, Department of Education, DOJ, education, EWIS, government accountability office, health and human services, HHS, Justice, Justice Department, safety, school personnel, schools, sexual abuse, USDOE, usgao