Disability Programs Still On GAO High Risk List

Each year the Government Accountability Office (GAO) releases a list of what it considers "high risk" programs that need attention. "Improving and Modernizing Federal Disability Programs" remains on this year's list. Here is GAO's explanation of why these are on the list:

Designated a high-risk area in 2003, federal disability programs remain in need of modernization. Almost 200 federal programs provide a wide range of services and supports, resulting in a patchwork of policies and programs without a unified strategy or set of national goals. Further, disability programs emphasize medical conditions in assessing work incapacity without adequate consideration of work opportunities afforded by advances in medicine, technology, and job demands. Beyond these broad concerns, the largest disability programs-managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Department of Defense (DOD)-are experiencing growing workloads, creating challenges to making timely and accurate decisions.