The Best FECA Practices Could Raise Productivity if Implemented at All FECA Offices

GAO conducted a review to identify opportunities for improving productivity in processing federal employees' disability and medical claims under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) program.

GAO found that productivity in 15 district offices varied widely because the offices used a variety of operating practices and staffing methods. GAO believes that the lower performing offices could improve productivity by adopting the practices of the more efficient offices. GAO found that FECA managers do not have a system for measuring and comparing district offices' productivity. However, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is working on a computer system which could improve productivity, although it will directly improve only the work of claims examiners, who comprise about 25 percent of the staff. GAO found that the major reasons for productivity differences were in the areas of idle time, extra support staff, and equipment availability and use. Because some of the best practices which promote higher productivity will cost money to initiate, the cost benefits of improvements should be assessed on an office-by-office basis.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Brian L. Usilaner Team: General Accounting Office: Accounting and Financial Management Division Phone: (202) 275-6205