GAO Report Exposes VHA's Failure to Implement Recommendations

A General Accountability Office (GAO) report exposed the Veterans Health Administration's failure to implement recommendations designed to improve its healthcare system.

The report found that the VHA — the umbrella unit that runs the Department of Veterans Affairs health system — has a fundamental flaw preventing improvements — no process.

"VHA does not have a process that ensures recommended organizational structure changes are evaluated to determine appropriate actions and implemented," the GAO report said. "GAO found instances where VHA actions in response to recent recommendations for organizational structure changes were incomplete, not documented, or not timely."

The report came as no surprise to one House Republican.

"This report documents an approach that has become commonplace at VA, in which the department announces initiatives with great fanfare and expends tremendous amounts of time and resources to achieve them, while failing in implementation due to a complete lack of oversight and accountability," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller told The Washington Post.

Miller was referring to a reorganization being trumpeted by the VA that would, among other things, "put Veterans first," the Post reported.

"It recommended restructuring and downsizing VHA's central office," the GAO report said. "The task force … conducted work over about six months, but did not produce a documented implementation plan or initiate implementation of recommendations. Without a process … VHA cannot ensure that it is making appropriate changes, using resources efficiently, holding officials accountable for taking action, and maintaining documentation of decisions made."

• Pete Hoekstra: Reform VA and Obamacare
• Vet's Suicide Prompts Call for Investigation Into Colorado VA 'Wait Lists'