ABSTRACT

Since 2002, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has systematically rated the management and performance of federal programs using a standard assessment instrument. The Bush administration developed the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) process in 2002 to provide a uniform instrument and procedures for assessing the management, performance, and results of all major federal programs. The Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program is sometimes cited as a model of consumer-driven decision making, offering federal employees a choice of competing private insurance packages varying in their mix of charges and benefits. The State Children's Health Insurance Program is viewed as having weak accountability for managers and program partners. Veterans Health Services is sometimes recognized for reforms that provided regional network managers with performance-based contracts and greater discretion and incentives for using resources to optimize patient outcomes. The Veterans Medical Care program reports comprehensive index scores for both access to care and quality of care.