In 2018, Medicare paid over $2 billion for anesthesia services such as those needed for surgery. In 2007, we reported that private insurance was paying about 3 times more for certain anesthesia services than Medicare was. Recent studies indicate that has increased to about 3.5 times more than what Medicare pays. Anesthesia providers can negotiate higher payments from private insurance for a number...

Prescription medications, if misused or overprescribed, can lead to dangerous drug interactions, abuse, overdose, or death. Prescription drug monitoring programs—state-operated electronic databases that track patient prescriptions for opioids and other medications—can help. Physicians said that access to these programs improved patient care and helped them prevent drug misuse and potentially d...

Three FDA regulatory centers help ensure the safety, security, and effectiveness of medical products. These centers had $200 million in property-related expenses in FY 2019. We found that the centers did not consistently collect, analyze, and verify the accuracy of information needed to manage personal property, such as scientific and laboratory equipment and office furniture. Effective management...

This report updates our oversight of federal actions to support public health, individuals, and the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include: There have been shortages of personal protective equipment and testing supplies because very few of them are made in the U.S. and global demand for them is highHHS may be able to collect more complete data on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, a...

The FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act required DOD to develop and use value-based initiatives in its TRICARE health care program. Value-based healthcare pays providers based on improved health outcomes, enhanced care for patients, and reduced health care costs over time (instead of the volume of services provided). DOD identified 20 potential initiatives and: Has implemented 5, including...

Physicians, nurses, and other providers can volunteer in their communities to help people affected by public health emergencies. These volunteers, known as the Medical Reserve Corps, provide first aid and shelter support during a variety of events—like wildfires, hurricanes, and pandemics—and provided medical aid to migrants at the southern border. They have also assisted with drive-thru testi...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimburses states for most Medicaid costs—health care costs and administrative costs, such as IT. CMS reimbursed states $34.3 billion for Medicaid IT systems in FY 2008-18. The documentation of CMS's reviews for most IT funding requests 2016-2018 lacked information, indicating that reviews may not have been complete. CMS is supposed to oversee s...

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration created a new office within the agency to oversee its lab safety program. But, 3 years later, there are still disagreements within the FDA about the office's roles and responsibilities. Moreover, FDA's lab safety program does not include key elements of effective oversight. For example, lab safety office staff cannot inspect labs unannounced. Unannounced i...

This report updates our oversight of some aspects of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include: Spending. Federal obligations totaled $1.5 trillion and expenditures totaled $1.3 trillion, as of June 30. Public health. Between January 1 and June 30, about 125,000 more deaths occurred from all causes than would normally be expected—an indicator of the pandemic's effect on hea...

Our undercover agents conducted 31 tests on health insurance sales representatives to gauge their use of deceptive practices, such as making false statements about coverage. Agents said they had pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, and sought coverage. In 8 tests, sales representatives engaged in potentially deceptive practices, such as claiming the pre-existing condition was covered when pl...