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Employee Drug Testing: Opportunities Exist to Lower Drug-Testing Program Costs

GGD-93-13 Published: Nov 23, 1992. Publicly Released: Dec 29, 1992.
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Highlights

 

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the costs associated with federal employee drug testing and determined whether the potential for cost savings exists.

 

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Health and Human Services To increase the cost-effectiveness of federal employee drug testing, the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Secretary of Health and Human Services together should consider the feasibility of: (1) eliminating from existing guidance the requirement that negative test results be submitted for medical review; and (2) reducing the required rate of blind proficiency testing.
Closed – Implemented
In June 1994, HHS revised its drug testing guidelines and reduced the required rate of proficiency testing, per the recommendation. ONDCP and HHS do not intend to implement the first part of the recommendation. Since the majority of the potential dollar savings will be achieved from the part of the recommendation implemented, GAO believes the recommendation has been substantially implemented.
Office of National Drug Control Policy To increase the cost-effectiveness of federal employee drug testing, the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Secretary of Health and Human Services together should consider the feasibility of: (1) eliminating from existing guidance the requirement that negative test results be submitted for medical review; and (2) reducing the required rate of blind proficiency testing.
Closed – Implemented
In June 1994, HHS revised its drug testing guidelines and reduced the required rate of proficiency testing, per the recommendations. It does not intend to implement the first part of the recommendation. Because the large majority of dollar savings potential will be achieved through the portion of the recommendation implemented, GAO believes the recommendation has been substantially implemented.
Department of Health and Human Services The Director, ONDCP, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should work with drug-testing agencies to consider the feasibility of collecting drug-testing samples with agency personnel rather than contracting out for this service.
Closed – Not Implemented
Agencies have this discretion. Agency downsizing and budget cuts make this recommendation less applicable.
Office of National Drug Control Policy The Director, ONDCP, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should work with drug-testing agencies to consider the feasibility of collecting drug-testing samples with agency personnel rather than contracting out for this service.
Closed – Not Implemented
Agencies have this discretion. Agency downsizing and budget cuts make this recommendation less applicable.
Office of National Drug Control Policy The Director, ONDCP, should work with drug-testing agencies to consider modifications to their selected frequency levels of employee drug testing.
Closed – Not Implemented
ONDCP has chosen to continue to allow agencies to use their discretion.
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Topics

Justice and Law Enforcement
Substance abuseControlled substancesCost controlSubstance abuseDrug testingFederal employeesInteragency relationsMonitoringPersonnel managementQuality controlTesting