Noncash Benefits: Methodological Review of Experimental Valuation Methods Indicates Many Problems Remain
PEMD-87-23
Published: Sep 30, 1987. Publicly Released: Nov 02, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO: (1) developed a general approach for assessing future proposed methods to change poverty indicators; and (2) applied its approach to one method the Census Bureau used to place cash value on noncash benefits.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status Sort descending |
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Department of Commerce | The Secretary of Commerce should direct the Director of the Census Bureau to conduct a more comprehensive examination of the problems with the Bureau's valuation methods, especially those involving medical benefits, giving full consideration to the assessment approach GAO developed. The Bureau should fully disclose in its publications the magnitude of the effects of these problems. |
Action taken was not completely responsive because the research report designed to address those problems has not been released. The full report is likely to be issued in December 1990.
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Topics
Disadvantaged personsEconomic indicatorsEvaluation methodsMedicaidPublic assistance programsStatistical dataWelfare benefitsMedicareCensusParticipation rates