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...

Veterans Affairs researchers have found that LGBT veterans may experience higher rates of depression and more frequent thoughts of suicide. Yet the VA can't systematically analyze the health of these veterans because it doesn't consistently collect data on sexual orientation or self-identified gender identity. For example, according to the VA, 89% of veterans' records lack gender identity data. Wi...

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...

Most veterans seeking Department of Veterans Affairs medical services use its 170 medical centers or over 1,000 outpatient facilities. Veterans may also use community care—services from non-VA providers—in some cases, such as when they face long waits or drive times to VA facilities. Congress expanded access to community care beginning in June 2019. The VA estimates community care will cost $2...

The Department of Veterans Affairs implemented the Veterans Community Care Program in June 2019—replacing similar programs that allow eligible veterans to receive care from non-VA providers. We reviewed how the VA implemented the new program and found: The VA hasn't established a timeliness goal for veteran careFew community providers use the VA's new software system to exchange information elec...

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...

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...

We looked at how the Department of Defense screens and provides treatment for eating disorders. These disorders have severe health effects and can significantly raise the risk of death. Many people with eating disorders may also have other mental health conditions such as anxiety. While DOD screens new recruits for eating disorders, medical personnel may also detect these conditions during a servi...