GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as defense acquisitions, Medicaid, and nuclear safety. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Acquisitions: A Knowledge-Based Funding Approach Could Improve Major Weapon System Program Outcomes. GAO-08-619, July 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-619
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08619high.pdf
• Electronic Payments: Many Programs Electronically Disburse Federal Benefits, and More Outreach Could Increase Use. GAO-08-645, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-645
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08645high.pdf
  
• Internal Revenue Service: Status of GAO Financial Audit and Related Financial Management Report Recommendations. GAO-08-693, July 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-693
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08693high.pdf
• Medicaid: CMS Needs More Information on the Billions of Dollars Spent on Supplemental Payments. GAO-08-614, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-614
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08614high.pdf
• Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waivers: CMS Should Encourage States to Conduct Mortality Reviews for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. GAO-08-529, May 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-529
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08529high.pdf
• Nuclear Safety: NRC's Oversight of Fire Protection at U.S. Commercial Nuclear Reactor Units Could Be Strengthened. GAO-08-747, June 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-747
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08747high.pdf
• Nuclear Waste: DOE Lacks Critical Information Needed to Assess Its Tank Management Strategy at Hanford. GAO-08-793, June 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-793
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08793high.pdf
• VA Health Care: Facilities Have Taken Action to Provide Language Access Services and Culturally Appropriate Care to a Diverse Veteran Population. GAO-08-535, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-535
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08535high.pdf

Correspondence

• Depot Maintenance: DOD's Report to Congress on Its Public-Private Partnerships at Its Centers of Industrial and Technical Excellence (CITEs) Is Not Complete and Additional Information Would Be Useful. GAO-08-902R, July 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-902R

Highlights of a GAO Forum

• Highlights of the Joint Forum on Tax Compliance: Options for Improvement and Their Budgetary Potential. GAO-08-703SP, June 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-703SP
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08703sphigh.pdf