Better Use of Information Technology Can Reduce the Burden of Federal Paperwork

Gao ID: GGD-83-39 April 11, 1983

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed four data collection activities to determine the potential benefits in terms of information technology.

GAO found that increased use of information technology would reduce the federal paperwork burden and improve the efficiency of the data collection activities. While the extent of the potential benefits varied, opportunities exist in all of the reviewed cases for better use of information technology. Some recent actions have been taken by federal managers to realize these benefits, but more could be done. GAO found that federal managers at all levels need to be more attentive to the use of information technology as a means of reducing reporting and paperwork problems. Agency officials stated that the lack of guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is one of the prime reasons individual agency policies and procedures have not been promulgated. GAO found that agencies need: (1) strategies to implement and control automated data submission programs; and (2) information and marketing analyses to realize the potential for increasing automated submissions. In addition, GAO found that federal managers have not maximized the benefits of automated programs once developed. GAO found that the number of automated Medicare claims could be increased by about 4 million, which would save about $1.3 million. GAO also found that the Census Bureau could almost double its volume of automated submissions and save about $183,000. In the two remaining case studies, GAO identified potential improvements through better use of technology in the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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: Walter L. Anderson Team: General Accounting Office: General Government Division Phone: (202) 275-3482


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