New Legislation and Stronger Program Management Needed To Improve Effectiveness of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation Program
HRD-80-47: Published: Feb 26, 1980. Publicly Released: Feb 29, 1980.
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The Veterans Administration (VA) vocational rehabilitation program was established to restore the employability of veterans whose employability has been lost because of a service-connected disability. Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the program to determine whether a revision of authorizing legislation would correct major program problems or whether other actions should be taken to improve the program's effectiveness.
The most important of several factors contributing the program's limited effectiveness was a lack of strong central management and accountability for program results at the central office level. No single organizational unit or individual had been given the authority and management responsibility for overall direction and control of the program. In addition, the objectives established by the central office, and the VA management information system, were geared to broad functions and processes that encompassed all VA programs, rather than focusing on a specific program's intended and actual results and outcomes. Other factors that limited the effectiveness of the program included financial disincentives caused by competition from other VA benefits; problems in program outreach and enrollment practices; and a lack of comprehensive rehabilitative services.
Nov 12, 2020
Veterans Health Care:
Agency Efforts to Provide and Study Prosthetics for Small but Growing Female Veteran PopulationGAO-21-60: Published: Nov 12, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 12, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
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VA Health Care:
Additional Steps Could Help Improve Community Care Budget EstimatesGAO-20-669: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Veterans Community Care Program:
Improvements Needed to Help Ensure Timely Access to CareGAO-20-721T: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
Sep 28, 2020
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Veterans Community Care Program:
Improvements Needed to Help Ensure Timely Access to CareGAO-20-643: Published: Sep 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2020.
Sep 21, 2020
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VA Disability Benefits:
VA Should Continue to Improve Access to Quality Disability Medical Exams for Veterans Living AbroadGAO-20-620: Published: Sep 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 2020.
Sep 16, 2020
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VA Acquisition Management:
COVID-19 Response Strains Supply Chain While Modernization Delays ContinueGAO-20-716T: Published: Sep 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 2020.
Sep 9, 2020
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Veteran Suicide:
VA Needs Accurate Data and Comprehensive Analyses to Better Understand On-Campus SuicidesGAO-20-664: Published: Sep 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2020.
Aug 21, 2020
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Veteran Federal Employment:
OPM and Agencies Could Better Leverage Data to Help Improve Veteran Retention RatesGAO-20-592: Published: Jul 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 21, 2020.
Jul 29, 2020
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VA Health Care:
VA Needs to Continue to Strengthen Its Oversight of Quality of State Veterans HomesGAO-20-697T: Published: Jul 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2020. -
VA Research:
Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Partnerships and Guide Decision-Making with Nonprofits and Academic AffiliatesGAO-20-570: Published: Jul 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2020.
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