Processing of Claims Resulting From the Swine Flu Program

GAO reviewed the timeliness of the Department of Justice in processing swine flu claims and lawsuits and the adequacy of staffing and resources available to Justice to handle swine flu claims. GAO reviewed the general method for processing claims filed against the federal government, the specific method established to process claims resulting from the swine flu program, and the procedures established by Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It determined from the claim files the length of elapsed time to decide claims and compiled descriptive data on the claims, such as the status of claims and the number of claims filed according to the nature of the alleged injury. GAO obtained limited information on the processing of lawsuits resulting from the swine flu program and determined Justice's role in swine flu litigation and data gathering. GAO sampled 722 swine flu claims and statistically determined the average amount of time it took to process them.