Medicaid-Funded Therapeutic Sterilizations
HRD-78-103: Published: Apr 14, 1978. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 1978.
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In response to a request for information on Government-funded sterilizations, 193 (about 10.5 percent) of the 1,846 Medicaid sterilization claims received by Pennsylvania Blue Shield during the third calendar quarter of 1977 were selected for review. Of the 193 claims, 62 were for female sterilizations reportedly done for therapeutic reasons. A medical advisor selected 34 patients on whom hysterectomies were performed for a more detailed review based on records furnished by the hospitals where the procedures were carried out. The medical advisor questioned the medical necessity for the hysterectomies in 11 of the 34 cases. The Medical Director, Division of Utilization Review of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, which administers the State's Medicaid Program, also reviewed the medical records of these 11 patients and concurred with the medical advisor's opinion. The 11 hysterectomies were performed in 11 different hospitals. At the time the patients were admitted to the hospitals for hysterectomies, 4 of the 11 hospitals were performing reviews of Medicaid patients' records under delegations from Professional Standards Review Organizations.
Feb 24, 2021
Covid-19:
Key Insights from GAO's Oversight of the Federal Public Health ResponseGAO-21-396T: Published: Feb 24, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 24, 2021.
Feb 17, 2021
Feb 11, 2021
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Operation Warp Speed:
Accelerated COVID-19 Vaccine Development Status and Efforts to Address Manufacturing ChallengesGAO-21-319: Published: Feb 11, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 11, 2021.
Feb 5, 2021
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DOD Health Care:
DOD Should Monitor Implementation of Its Clinical Practice GuidelinesGAO-21-237: Published: Feb 5, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021. -
Medicaid:
CMS Needs to Implement Risk-Based Oversight of Puerto Rico's Procurement ProcessGAO-21-229: Published: Feb 5, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021. -
VA Health Care:
Community Living Centers Were Commonly Cited for Infection Control Deficiencies Prior to the COVID-19 PandemicGAO-21-195R: Published: Jan 6, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021.
Jan 28, 2021
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COVID-19:
Critical Vaccine Distribution, Supply Chain, Program Integrity, and Other Challenges Require Focused Federal AttentionGAO-21-265: Published: Jan 28, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2021.
Jan 21, 2021
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Rural Hospital Closures:
Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care ServicesGAO-21-93: Published: Dec 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021. -
Health Care Funding:
Federal Obligations to and Funds Received by Certain Organizations Involved in Health-Related Services, 2016 through 2018GAO-21-188R: Published: Dec 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021.
Jan 14, 2021
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Medicaid:
Data Completeness and Accuracy Have Improved, Though Not All Standards Have Been MetGAO-21-196: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021.
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