Washington, D.C. - A senior official of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) testified this afternoon on the steps the agency is taking to support the President's initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery through Health Information Technology (HIT) in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. More than eight million civilian workers and their dependents are covered through FEHB.

Daniel A. Green, Deputy Associate Director of the Center for Employee and Family Support, testified before the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization - part of the House Committee on Government Reform - at a special hearing in St. Louis, MO.

"As the administrator of the country's largest employee health insurance program, OPM plays a key role in fulfilling President Bush's vision of making medical records and health information more easily accessible to consumers through the adoption of advanced technologies," Green said. "We are strongly committed to continue working with FEHB carriers to carry out the President's goals and objectives."

Green said OPM's chief priority in the health information arena was to work to implement the President's recent executive order to expand the information and options available to federal workers.

"Making Health information more transparent to consumers will help them understand the value of personal health records in managing their own needs and expenses," Green said. "Together, we believe HIT and transparency can drive better informed and more rational medical care decisions, resulting in cost reductions and better quality care."

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.