What GAO Found

In May 2025, GAO identified 35 priority recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Since then, HHS has implemented four of those recommendations.  In May 2026, GAO identified an additional seven priority recommendations, bringing the total to 38.  GAO is highlighting the following two areas that warrant timely and focused attention:

• Strengthen Medicare and Medicaid program integrity and oversight; and
• Improve public health program oversight and coordination.

Taking action to implement GAO's open recommendations in these areas would help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of key federal health care programs and funding.  It would also help officials understand how prepared jurisdictions are to respond to public health emergencies.  Addressing all of GAO's open priority recommendations could significantly improve HHS's operations.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or make progress toward addressing a high risk or duplication issue, among other benefits.  Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.