HHS Office for Civil Rights: Questions Regarding Travel by the Director
HRD-87-84
Published: Jul 02, 1987. Publicly Released: Aug 04, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the travel and procurement practices of the director of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to determine the reasonableness of the director's extensive travel at government expense when HHS operations were facing major cutbacks.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | Based on the review of domestic travel, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should require periodically an independent review of the reasonableness and justification of the trips taken and expenses claimed by officials who authorize and approve their own travel orders and vouchers. |
In a November 2, 1987, memorandum on travel policy for senior staff officials, HHS rescinded department officials' authority to approve their own travel.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | Based on the review of domestic travel, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should require documentation on file as to the purposes for trips taken under blanket travel orders. |
In November 1987, HHS issued a policy memorandum stating that blanket travel orders should be used only on an exception basis and when absolutely essential. The memorandum also required that each trip taken under a blanket travel order must be justified separately.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | Based on the review of domestic travel, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should require that trips to conferences and meetings by personnel who normally travel under blanket travel orders be authorized on a trip-by-trip basis. |
HHS has not revised its travel policies to specifically address trips to conferences and meetings taken under blanket travel orders. However, the HHS November 1987 policy memorandum directing officials to minimize the use of blanket travel orders and requiring separate justification for each trip under blanket travel orders will in effect implement this recommendation.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should take steps to enforce the existing requirements for international travel, including those on advance approval, planning, and trip reports. |
The November 2, 1987 policy statement covers all travel and in effect implements this recommendation.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should require periodically an independent review of the reasonableness of the international travel expenses claimed by officials who authorize and approve their own vouchers. |
In a November 2, 1987, memorandum on travel policy for senior staff officials, HHS rescinded department officials' authority to approve their own travel.
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Agency missionsExpense claimsInternational travelPer diem allowancesProcurement practicesTravel costsCivil rightsAirlinesHealth careHistorically Black colleges and universities