Skip to main content

VA Health Care: Improvements Needed to Manage Higher-Than-Expected Demand for the Family Caregiver Program

GAO-15-245T Published: Dec 03, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 03, 2014.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

What GAO Found

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)--within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)--significantly underestimated caregivers' demand for services when it implemented the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (Family Caregiver Program). As a result, some VA medical centers (VAMCs) had difficulties managing the larger-than-expected workload, and some caregivers experienced delays in approval determinations and in receiving program benefits. VHA officials originally estimated that about 4,000 caregivers would be approved for the program by September 30, 2014. However, by May 2014 about 15,600 caregivers had been approved--more than triple the original estimate. The program's staffing was based on VA's initial assumptions about the potential size of the program and consisted of placing a single caregiver support coordinator at each VAMC to administer the program. In addition, each VAMC was to provide clinical staff to carry out essential functions of the program, such as conducting medical assessments for eligibility and making home visits. This led to implementation problems at busy VAMCs that did not have sufficient staff to conduct these program functions in addition to their other duties. As a result, timelines for key program functions, such as those for completing applications within 45 days and making quarterly home visits to caregivers, are not being met. VHA has taken some steps to address staffing shortages; however, some VAMCs have not been able to overcome their workload problems because the program continues to grow at a steady rate--about 500 approved caregivers are being added to the program each month. Federal internal control standards emphasize the need for effective and efficient operations, including the use of agency resources.

The Caregiver Support Program office, which manages the program, does not have ready access to the type of workload data that would allow it to routinely monitor the effects of the Family Caregiver Program on VAMCs' resources due to limitations with the program's information technology (IT) system--the Caregiver Application Tracker. Program officials explained that this system was designed to manage a much smaller program, and as a result, the system has limited capabilities. According to federal standards for internal control, agencies should identify, capture, and distribute information that permits officials to perform their duties efficiently. However, outside of obtaining basic aggregate program statistics, the program office is not able to readily retrieve data from the system that would allow it to better assess the scope and extent of workload problems at VAMCs. Program officials also expressed concern about the reliability of the system's data, which they must take steps to validate. The lack of ready access to comprehensive workload data impedes the program office's ability to monitor the program and identify workload problems or make modifications as needed. This runs counter to federal standards for internal control which state that agencies should monitor their performance over time and use the results to correct identified deficiencies and make improvements. Program officials told GAO that they have taken initial steps to obtain another IT system, but they are not sure how long it will take. However, unless the program office begins taking steps towards identifying solutions prior to obtaining a new system, VAMCs' workload problems will persist and caregivers will not be able to get the services they need.

Why GAO Did This Study

This testimony summarizes the information contained in GAO's September 2014 report, entitled "VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Address Higher-Than-Expected Demand for the Family Caregiver Program" (GAO-14-675).

Full Report

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

FamiliesHealth care programsHealth care servicesInternal controlsProgram evaluationProgram managementService-disabled veteransVeterans benefitsVeterans hospitalsVeterans' medical careCaregiversWounded servicemembers