GAO and the Public Health

GAO has considered many public health services issues. In a review of the allocation of medical resources, it concluded that no system currently exists for ensuring that the number and type of physicians being trained is consistent with or related to the number needed. Concerning another issue, GAO sent questionnaires to hospitals which were receiving federally assisted loans and found that many of them had financial problems which could lead to defaults and closure of the facilities. GAO recommended that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare increase its vigilence in monitoring federally assisted loans to hospitals. A review of neighborhood health centers revealed that the centers were generally overstaffed for the number of patients being treated. GAO has examined the reasons for spiraling hospital costs and is performing a study to determine what types of management techniques could help constrain rising hospital costs.