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Recommendations Database

GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed. GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention. We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues. Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.

Our recommendations help congressional and agency leaders prepare for appropriations and oversight activities, as well as help improve government operations. Moreover, when implemented, some of our priority recommendations can save large amounts of money, help Congress make decisions on major issues, and substantially improve or transform major government programs or agencies, among other benefits.

As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.

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Results:

Subject Term: "Medical equipment"

6 publications with a total of 9 open recommendations including 1 priority recommendation
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VA Health Care: Improved Oversight Needed for Reusable Medical Equipment
GAO-18-474, Aug 3, 2018
Director: Sharon Silas
Phone: (202) 512-7114

2 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Under Secretary of Health should ensure all RME inspections are being conducted and reported as required and that the inspection results VHA has are complete. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Health Administration
Status: Open

Comments: VA agreed with this recommendation and indicated it would establish an oversight process for reviewing and monitoring findings from inspections. VA has described some of the oversight actions it has put in place and noted that actions would be completed in 2020. We will update the status of this recommendation when additional information is received.
Recommendation: The Under Secretary of Health should examine the Sterile Processing Services workforce needs and take action based on this assessment, as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Health Administration
Status: Open

Comments: VA agreed with this recommendation and indicated it would review workforce needs and take necessary actions. VA has described some of the actions taken and noted that actions would be completed in 2019. We will update the status of this recommendation when additional information is received.
Low-Dose Radiation: Interagency Collaboration on Planning Research Could Improve Information on Health Effects
GAO-17-546, Sep 26, 2017
Director: John Neumann
Phone: (202) 512-3841

1 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Secretary of Energy should lead the development of a mechanism for interagency collaboration to determine roles and responsibilities for addressing priorities related to research on the health effects of low-dose radiation.

Agency: Department of Energy
Status: Open

Comments: In a July 2018 update, DOE stated that it believes that the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the appropriate entity to lead interagency collaboration and coordinate science and technology policy. According to DOE, OSTP intends to charter an interagency working group under the NSTC on a government-wide strategy related to research on the health effects of low-dose radiation. As of December 2019, OSTP had begun to address a related requirement under the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act to coordinate federal efforts related to radiation biology research and planned to release a report on this topic in early 2020. When we confirm what actions OSTP has taken to establish this working group, we will provide updated information.
Medicare: CMS Should Evaluate Providing Coverage for Disposable Medical Devices That Could Substitute for Durable Medical Equipment
GAO-17-600, Jul 17, 2017
Director: Kathleen M. King
Phone: (202) 512-7114

1 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Administrator of CMS should evaluate the possible costs and savings of using disposable devices that could potentially substitute for DME, including options for benefit categories and payment methodologies that could be used to cover these substitutes, and, if appropriate, seek legislative authority to cover these devices.

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Status: Open

Comments: In March 2019, HHS included in its fiscal year 2020 budget a legislative proposal to extend Medicare coverage to disposable devices that could potentially substitute for DME in treating and managing diabetes. As of March 2020, CMS has not provided documentation of the evaluation of possible costs and savings that we recommended and that we believe underpins the legislative proposal. We will review this documentation once provided.
Food and Drug Administration: Comprehensive Strategic Planning Needed to Enhance Coordination between Medical Product Centers
GAO-16-500, May 16, 2016
Director: Marcia Crosse
Phone: (202) 512-7114

1 open recommendations
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Recommendation: To ensure that FDA can effectively coordinate and integrate its medical product centers' programs and emerging issues, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Commissioner of FDA to engage in a strategic planning process to identify challenges that cut across the medical product centers and document how it will achieve measurable goals and objectives in these areas.

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Status: Open

Comments: FDA concurred with the recommendation and in September 2016 and January 2018 described steps it had taken toward strategic planning for its medical product centers. However, in June 2020, FDA informed GAO that there had been several senior leadership changes and its agency-wide strategic planning process was paused to focus on the covid-19 pandemic response. Officials also noted that FDA continues to address existing strategic priorities. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information.
Reverse Auctions: Guidance Is Needed to Maximize Competition and Achieve Cost Savings
GAO-14-108, Dec 9, 2013
Director: Mackin, Michele
Phone: (202) 512-4841

1 open recommendations
including 1 priority recommendation
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Recommendation: To help mitigate confusion about the use of reverse auctions in federal acquisitions, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget should take steps to amend the FAR to address agencies' use of reverse auctions.

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: In providing comments on this report, OMB generally concurred with this recommendation. The FAR Council members issued a timetable in Spring 2020 for the proposed regulatory changes to address the use of reverse auctions in response to GAO's recommendations and 2015 guidance released by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). The notice of proposed rulemaking was planned for August 2020. As of August 10, 2020, the notice of proposed rulemaking had not been published. OMB officials did not provide a revised date when they planned to publish the notice.
Medicare Imaging Accreditation: Establishing Minimum National Standards and an Oversight Framework Would Help Ensure Quality and Safety of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Services
GAO-13-246, May 31, 2013
Director: Cosgrove, James C
Phone: (202) 512-7114

3 open recommendations
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Recommendation: To help ensure that ADI suppliers provide consistent, safe, and high-quality imaging to Medicare beneficiaries, the Administrator of CMS should determine the content of and publish minimum national standards for the accreditation of ADI suppliers, which could include specific qualifications for supplier personnel and requiring accrediting organization review of clinical images.

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, HHS officials informed us that they plan to implement this recommendation in March 2020. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information.
Recommendation: To help ensure that ADI suppliers provide consistent, safe, and high-quality imaging to Medicare beneficiaries, the Administrator of CMS should develop an oversight framework for evaluating accrediting organization performance, which could include collecting and analyzing information on accreditation results and conducting validation audits.

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, HHS officials informed us that they plan to implement this recommendation in March 2020. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information.
Recommendation: To help ensure that ADI suppliers provide consistent, safe, and high-quality imaging to Medicare beneficiaries, the Administrator of CMS should develop more specific requirements for accrediting organization mid-cycle audit procedures and clarify guidance on immediate-jeopardy deficiencies to ensure consistent identification and timely correction of serious care problems for the duration of accreditation.

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, HHS officials informed us that they plan to implement this recommendation in March 2020. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information.