VA Health Care: Inadequate Controls over Addictive Drugs
HRD-91-101
Published: Jun 06, 1991. Publicly Released: Jun 19, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined how Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pharmacies controlled prescription drugs that were potentially addictive and assessed VA procedures for: (1) safeguarding those prescription drugs; and (2) detecting thefts of such drugs for personal use or resale.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should report inadequate internal controls over lower scheduled drugs as a material weakness in his 1991 Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) report. To address this weakness, the Secretary should direct pharmacy managers to store and dispense lower scheduled drugs in locked areas that are accessible to only a minimum number of authorized employees. |
Closed – Implemented
VA included this issue in its 1991 FMFIA report and published a circular addressing this issue. After additional review, GAO determined that the recommendation is being adequately implemented.
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| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should report inadequate internal controls over lower scheduled drugs as a material weakness in his 1991 Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act report. To address this weakness, the Secretary should direct pharmacy managers to inspect supplies of lower scheduled drugs periodically, using receipt and dispensing records, so that potential drug losses are detected in a timely manner. |
Closed – Implemented
VA included this issue in its 1991 FMFIA report and published a circular addressing this issue. VA has issued a new chapter in the VHA Manual M-2 "Clinical Affairs," which provides new requirements for lower-scheduled drugs, including periodic inventory inspections.
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Topics
Controlled substancesSubstance abuseDrug traffickingFacility securityInspectionInternal auditsInternal controlsInventory controlLarcenyVeterans hospitalsPrescription drugs