Better Use of Information Technology Can Reduce the Burden of Federal Paperwork
GGD-83-39
Published: Apr 11, 1983. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 1983.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed four data collection activities to determine the potential benefits in terms of information technology.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director, OMB, should direct the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, as part of its continuing oversight responsibilities of federal information management activities, to periodically review federal agencies' efforts to implement and reassess programs targeted at increasing automated submission of required data. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to revise its Medicare regulations to require intermediaries to accept submissions of Medicare claims in an automated form where it is cost effective to the Medicare program. |
Closed – Not Implemented
No action will be taken by the agency because Medicare regulations do not require revision to accomplish the objective of this recommendation. In December 1982, HCFA issued a transmittal that requires Medicare intermediaries to accept electronic claims data when cost effective.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Administrator, HCFA, to clarify the roles and responsibilities of regional staff to ensure intermediaries' compliance with information technology guidelines and regulations. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Administrator, HCFA, to revise its intermediary performance evaluation criteria to reflect an intermediary's contribution to the increased use of automation in Medicare billing. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Commissioner, FDA, to establish procedures to use a turnaround document to collect drug product listing changes, instead of using forms. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Commissioner, FDA, to revise procedures for collecting data for new drugs to allow submission of a computer printout of the data instead of a form, for drug manufacturers with this capability. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Census Bureau to conduct a detailed survey of at least the high volume Shipper's Export Declaration respondents to determine capability and interest in the automated program. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Census Bureau to prepare promotional literature for managers detailing the program's technology options and the benefits of program participation. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Census Bureau to aggressively promote the automated program through personalized followup of inquiries made by respondents and by contacting potential candidates identified through the survey. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Commodity Futures Trading Commission | The Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should promote and publicize the automated program and its varied capabilities to receive data in machine readable form. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Commodity Futures Trading Commission | The Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should contact industry service bureaus and encourage program participation on behalf of their clients. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director, OMB, should establish written policies encouraging the use of information technologies as a means of reducing the burden on the government and the public and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of agency operations. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director, OMB, should amend the forms clearance process so that, except under exigent circumstances, agencies must consider whether an increase in automated submission is feasible and cost effective. If so, the agency should submit a plan describing how such an increase would be accomplished. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
Claims processingCost controlData collectionElectronic formsInformation technologyMechanizationReporting requirementsCensusMedicareData automation