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                    Recent Reports
    Maternal and Infant Health: HHS Should Strengthen Processes for Measuring Program PerformanceGAO-24-106605
      
	Published:  Mar 27, 2024


	Publicly Released: Mar 27, 2024
          Commercial Aviation: Key Lessons from COVID-19 Preparedness and Emergency Financial Assistance to the IndustryGAO-24-106754
      
	Published:  Mar 18, 2024


	Publicly Released: Mar 18, 2024
          Veterans Health: VA Should Improve Its Monitoring of Severe Maternal Complications and Mental Health ScreeningsGAO-24-106209
      
	Published:  Jan 16, 2024


	Publicly Released: Jan 16, 2024
          Biodefense: National Biosurveillance Integration Center Has Taken Steps to Address Challenges, but Could Better Assess ResultsGAO-24-106142
      
	Published:  Nov 29, 2023


	Publicly Released: Nov 29, 2023
          Public Health Preparedness: Building and Maintaining Infrastructure beyond the COVID-19 PandemicGAO-24-105891
      
	Published:  Nov 07, 2023


	Publicly Released: Nov 07, 2023
          Zoonotic Diseases: Federal Actions Needed to Improve Surveillance and Better Assess Human Health Risks Posed by WildlifeGAO-23-105238
      
	Published:  May 31, 2023


	Publicly Released: May 31, 2023
    
    

  
  View More Reports

Open Recommendations (17 total)
  Zoonotic Diseases: Federal Actions Needed to Improve Surveillance and Better Assess Human Health Risks Posed by Wildlife
GAO-23-105238
        May 31, 2023

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of CDC, in collaboration with other agencies, as appropriate, should comprehensively assess zoonotic disease risks related to imported wildlife to inform CDC's decisions about regulations. Such an assessment could include identifying high priority categories of wildlife and then conducting risk assessments for those particular categories. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                                      Open
As of February 2024, CDC agreed that qualitative and quantitative public health risk assessments are valuable for informing policy decisions but that comprehensively assessing zoonotic disease risks was too broad. The agency stated that the recommendation implied conducting public health risk assessments for wildlife that are not known to pose a zoonotic disease risk, which would not be a good use of resources. CDC also said the Smithsonian Institution's project to rank the risk of imported wildlife made GAO's recommendation duplicative. GAO continues to believe that CDC could use a risk-based approach--for example, identifying high priority categories of wildlife for risk assessments--to use its resources efficiently and that it could do so in collaboration with other agencies, such as the Smithsonian Institution, as appropriate.Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
GAO-22-105276
        Jul 27, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of the CDC should expand the scope of its analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to include the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults under age 65 who may be at higher risk of falls, including adults with disabilities, and, as appropriate, share findings with ACL and other agencies overseeing relevant programmatic efforts. For example:CDC could analyze existing BRFSS data on adults aged 45 to 64 and share findings, as appropriate.CDC could propose asking adults aged 18 to 44 the two BRFSS fall-related questions, as part of the survey update process.(Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
CDC agreed with this recommendation. As of January 2023, CDC officials said they have begun exploring options to expand the scope of the BRFSS data analysis for adults under age 65. Specifically, CDC is analyzing BRFSS data on falls among adults with disabilities aged 45 to 64. CDC will also consider how best to disseminate these findings, such as through targeted outreach to key partners, publications, and email outreach to those who subscribe to CDC updates on older adult falls prevention.Contact Tracing for Air Travel: CDC's Data System Needs Substantial Improvement
GAO-22-105018
        Jul 11, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of CDC should assess additional opportunities to improve the quality of air passenger information it collects and manages— including opportunities to increase automation by adopting or establishing data exchange standards—and take action, as appropriate, based on this assessment. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                                      Open
In December 2023, CDC told us that they are working on a multiphase project to improve data exchange between CDC and state, local, and territorial health departments. According to CDC officials, CDC is working to build and test a platform that will allow for more secure, automated, and user-friendly data exchange. This effort has not been completed and therefore, this recommendation remains open. GAO will continue to monitor CDC's efforts to implement this recommendation.Contact Tracing for Air Travel: CDC's Data System Needs Substantial Improvement
GAO-22-105018
        Jul 11, 2022

  Show
    2Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of CDC should re-design QARS or deploy a new data system that would allow CDC to more effectively facilitate contact tracing for air passengers and conduct disease surveillance for air travel. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                                      Open
As of December 2023, CDC officials told us that efforts to modernize the Quarantine Activity Reporting System (QARS) are underway. One module has been converted to a cloud-based platform, while an additional five modules are pending development. GAO will continue to monitor CDC's progress implementing this recommendation.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of CDC should implement controls for the entry of data into its Quarantine Activity Reporting System (QARS), including by providing adequate training and standard operating procedures that are documented and institutionalized for system users and by conducting consistent validation checks. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
As of December 2023, CDC has taken steps to address this recommendation, according to CDC officials. For example, CDC officials stated that they created an automated system for checking the quality of data entered into QARS allowing CDC staff to monitor critical data entered into the system. Using this system, CDC officials reported that they have been able to review over 100,000 records and address more than 2,000 data entry errors. In addition, CDC officials told us that they have created an online repository of training and onboarding resources related to data quality and are working to update the QARS operations manual. GAO has requested documentation to corroborate these actions and will continue to monitor CDC's efforts to implement this recommendation.COVID-19: Current and Future Federal Preparedness Requires Fixes to Improve Health Data and Address Improper Payments
GAO-22-105397
        Apr 27, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of the Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention should define specific action steps and time frames for the agency's data  modernization efforts. See the Public Health Data Collection and Standardization enclosure. (Recommendation 9)
                                                                                                      Open – Partially Addressed
As of April 2023, CDC has taken steps to address this recommendation. Specifically, CDC has developed a Public Health Data Strategy (Strategy), and has established the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (Office). The Office was created as an accountability mechanism for public health data and will implement the Strategy within the next 2 years. According to CDC, the Office will be responsible for core public health data systems and technology solutions to support critical public health missions and data policy. Although CDC has identified a 2 year time frame to implement its Strategy, it has not defined the specific action steps it will take to implement the Strategy. In its Strategy, CDC outlines broad actions it plans to take, but does not define the steps needed to achieve these actions. That is, the mechanisms through which CDC plans to increase engagement, collaboration, and continual feedback are unclear. GAO will continue to monitor CDC's progress on any updates to the Strategy and its implementation.COVID-19: Current and Future Federal Preparedness Requires Fixes to Improve Health Data and Address Improper Payments
GAO-22-105397
        Apr 27, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The Director of the Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention, in coordination with state, tribal, local, and territorial jurisdiction  and public health organization partners, should ensure the agency builds upon its existing  surveillance approach by detailing specific objectives for how it will achieve its  COVID-19 surveillance goals and describing how it will assess progress toward meeting  them. See the COVID-19 Surveillance enclosure. (Recommendation 10)
                                                                                                      Open
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed with our recommendation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that it will continue efforts to develop a document summarizing its COVID-19 surveillance goals and how it will assess progress towards meeting them. As of April 2023, CDC stated that it is preparing a report for publication that will describe COVID-19 Surveillance in the United States after the expiration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. CDC also stated that it is finalizing a document that summarizes the national COVID-19 surveillance framework during the emergency response phase of the pandemic that is expected to be cleared for release after the expiration of the PHE. CDC stated that it will provide supporting documentation in May 2023. Once CDC provides these documents, we will review them to determine the extent they were developed in coordination with partners and the extent they detail specific objectives for how it will achieve its COVID-19 surveillance goals and measure progress.Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference
GAO-22-104613
        Apr 20, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The CDC Director should ensure that procedures for reporting and addressing potential political interference in scientific decision-making are developed and documented, including adding a definition of political interference. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
As of April 2023, HHS was updating its departmental scientific integrity policy and its operating divisions, including the CDC, were also updating their individual scientific integrity policies. The updated policies will include specific provisions prohibiting political interference and will establish procedures for reporting and handling allegations of scientific integrity violations, including those involving alleged political interference. In April 2023, HHS plans to submit its draft scientific integrity policy for review by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. HHS then plans to finalize its policy by February 2024 and will make the policy publicly available on its website.Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference
GAO-22-104613
        Apr 20, 2022

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      The CDC Director should ensure that CDC employees and contractors performing scientific activities are trained on how to report allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                                      Open
As of April 2023, HHS was updating its departmental scientific integrity policy and its operating divisions were also updating their individual scientific integrity policies. The updated policies will include specific provisions prohibiting political interference and will establish procedures for reporting and handling allegations of scientific integrity violations, including those involving alleged political interference. Following publication of the updated departmental scientific integrity policy by February 2024, HHS will develop scientific integrity training for employees, contractors, and other persons covered by the policy. This training will describe HHS's policies and procedures related to scientific integrity, including how to recognize, avoid, and report potential political interference.COVID-19: HHS Agencies' Planned Reviews of Vaccine Distribution and Communication Efforts Should Include Stakeholder Perspectives
GAO-22-104457
        Nov 4, 2021

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                      As CDC finalizes its plans for an after action review related to its COVID-19 vaccine distribution and communication efforts, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should ensure the agency obtains feedback during the life cycle of the response from key stakeholders, including state and local health officials, and incorporates their perspectives as it conducts its review. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
CDC concurred with this recommendation. As of April 2023, HHS/CDC had no updates for this recommendation. We will continue to monitor the agency's actions in this area.View More RecommendationsRelated Pages
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