Audit of Veterans Health Administration Mental Health Initiative Funding

The Office of Inspector General conducted an audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Health Initiative (MHI) Funding. The objective of this audit was to determine if the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had an adequate process in place to ensure funds allocated for MHI were tracked and used accordingly. Results of our audit showed that VHA staff adequately tracked funds allocated for the MHI in FY 2008. The Office of Mental Health Service (OMHS) distributed funds through the Office of Finance for specific programs to medical facilities using transfer disbursement authorities. In addition, OMHS provided award memorandums explaining the funded program, necessary resources, and the funding amounts. Medical facility fiscal staff at each location established their own multiple fund control points and used spreadsheets to track salary and purchase order costs for the MHI. The Office of Finance staff received reports on the amounts spent and compared with the amounts allocated. Medical facility mental health care staff reported on personnel actions associated with filling the MHI positions and if the positions were filled internally, when the old positions were backfilled. OMHS staff monitored these personnel reports to track the status of the MHI positions. In FY 2009, the Office of Finance established standardized account classification codes for the MHI funds that could further enhance transparency and accountability over how MHI funding is spent in the future. The Under Secretary for Health agreed with the findings and noted that metrics for monitoring the implementation f the requirements listed in the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook are currently being developed