Federal Reports

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Care in the Community healthcare inspection program examines clinical and administrative processes associated with providing quality outpatient healthcare to veterans. This report provides a focused evaluation of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 7 and its oversight of the quality of care delivered in community-based outpatient clinics and through its community care referrals to non-VA providers. Although it is difficult to measure the value of well-delivered and coordinated care between VA and non-VA providers, the findings in this report may help VISN leaders identify vulnerable areas of community care that, if properly addressed, should improve healthcare quality for veterans.The OIG reviewed care coordination (congestive heart failure management), primary and mental health care (diagnostic evaluations following positive screenings for depression or alcohol misuse), quality of care (home dialysis), and women’s health (mammography care and communication of results). The OIG issued two recommendations for improvement in two areas, quality of care and women’s health:• Monitoring the quality of home dialysis contracted clinical services for patients receiving non-VA home dialysis services• Ensuring that ordering providers communicate normal mammography results to patients within 14 calendar days

The objective of our audit was to determine the extent to which Federal Student Aid (FSA) had processes for planning and managing the transition to the Next Generation (Next Gen) loan servicing environment to achieve the project’s intended outcomes.Although FSA had processes in place for planning and managing the transition to the Next Gen loan servicing environment, FSA did not perform key steps within those processes or follow best practices for acquisition planning that could have better ensured the proper planning and managing of the transition.

NASA utilizes thousands of software products from hundreds of vendors, enabling Agency scientists and engineers to drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, Earth studies, and human and space exploration. In this audit we assessed whether NASA is managing its software assets in an effective and efficient manner while maintaining compliance with applicable requirements and security best practices.

Since our 2020 audit, the Department of Homeland Security has made progress towards fulfilling the 13 responsibilities in the GDA.

What We Looked AtFAA relies on its highly-trained Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) to safely and efficiently manage the flow of air traffic across the National Airspace System. In 2012, FAA undertook a review of the ATCS hiring process that identified the need to update its ATCS pre-employment test. In response, FAA deployed the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) test in November 2016. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 mandated that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) assess the assumptions and methodologies used to develop the ATSA. Accordingly, we initiated this audit to assess FAA’s (1) validation of the assumptions and methodologies used to develop the air traffic controller pre-employment test and (2) administration of the test and its plans to evaluate the test’s effectiveness in identifying successful ATCS candidates. What We FoundFAA has taken steps to validate the assumptions and methodologies used to develop the ATSA. FAA worked with a human resource consulting organization, APTMetrics, to identify the critical skills, abilities, and other characteristics (SAO) required to perform important ATCS responsibilities. FAA then worked with APTMetrics, NATCA, and various subject matter experts to ensure that the ATSA evaluates the SAOs required for entry level ATCS. Also, the ATSA identifies sufficient applicants to meet FAA’s trainee hiring goals but the Agency has not established a plan for evaluating the ATSA’s effectiveness. As a result, it is unclear whether the test is effective at helping the Agency identify successful ATCS candidates. Furthermore, FAA’s lengthy hiring process and COVID-19 restrictions have slowed FAA’s onboarding and training activities for newly hired ATCS. As a result, few applicants who have taken the ATSA and were selected as trainees have completed their training and obtained certification. Our RecommendationsFAA concurred with our recommendation that the Agency evaluate the ATSA’s effectiveness in identifying successful ATCS candidates. We consider the recommendation resolved but open pending completion of the planned actions.