Foundation for Government Accountability

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is an American public policy think tank based in Naples, Florida. The nonprofit organization primarily focuses on welfare and health care reform at both the state and federal levels. FGA conducts policy research and its experts recommend free-market solutions that promote work, reduce dependency, and increase opportunity. The organization was founded in 2011 by Tarren Bragdon, who now serves as FGA's CEO and president. The group's "emphasis on policy messaging and marketing...has differentiated the group from traditional think tanks."[3]

Foundation for Government Accountability
Founder(s)Tarren Bragdon
Established2011
FocusHealth care and welfare policy reform
PresidentTarren Bragdon
BudgetRevenue: $4,887,532
Expenses: $4,403,435
(FYE December 2016)[1]
Location
Naples, Florida[2]
,
United States
Coordinates26.2719°N 81.6909°W / 26.2719; -81.6909
Address15275 Collier Blvd.
Naples, FL 34119
Websitethefga.org

History

FGA was founded in 2011 by Tarren Bragdon, a former Maine legislator and past CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center. According to the organization, FGA was founded with a focus on policy reform in Florida, but adapted to a multi-state focus to implement reforms that reduce government dependency nationwide.

FGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FGA states that it is primarily funded by individuals, with the remaining funding coming from foundations and businesses. In 2011, the organization's income was $212,000 and in 2012 its funding grew to $731,000. By 2016, the organization's revenue was $4,887,532.[4]

FGA has a staff of 26. In 2017, the group had $7 million in revenue.[3]

Policy issues

Welfare reform

By studying and tracking the impact of different reforms, the FGA is able to give policy makers clear guidance on what welfare policies have a demonstrable effect on the incomes and independence of people on welfare. The FGA conducted the first and most comprehensive study[5] of the impact of work requirements on able-bodied adults on food stamps in Kansas[6] and Maine[7] and found that incomes more than doubled within a year for those who transitioned out of the program. In all, for every $2,000 people on food stamps lost in benefits, they earned $3,000 in new income.

FGA supports work requirements tied to food stamps. The organization piloted welfare changes in several different states before beginning to advocate for changes at a federal level in 2017. FGA supports legislation that would require able-bodied individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 to work or attend training programs for 20 hours each week in order to receive benefits.[3]

Medicaid expansion

Blocking Medicaid expansion has been a longtime project of the FGA, as it sees Medicaid spending under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as unsustainable, threatening both state budgets and the services provided to traditional Medicaid patients.[8] At the state level, Medicaid spending already crowds out funding[9] for other critical services, such as primary and higher education, public safety, and infrastructure. A Harvard study[10] found that the FGA’s involvement in this Medicaid debate was a key factor in whether or not a state expanded the program.

Stop the Scam

Stop the Scam is a FGA program that partners states with third-party vendors to use the latest technology and databases to protect public programs like Medicare and Medicaid from fraud and abuse.[11] State agencies are limited by federal law to how regularly they can audit their own rolls, and this partnership gives them a legal way to conduct more regular verifications. It also gives states access to far more databases than they are currently using or might have access to. This program was first run in Illinois[12] and since has saved the programs hundreds of millions of dollars, removing 400,000 ineligible beneficiaries[13] in the first two years.

Right to Shop

Right to Shop is an FGA program that provides incentives[14] for patients to shop for lower-cost, higher-value health care services. The FGA combined two successful programs (a Massachusetts price transparency component[15] and New Hampshire's Smart Shopper program)[16] into one comprehensive concept that allows patients to know the average price for their county from their insurer for specific services, and if they receive those services at a lower cost provider, the insurance company splits the savings with them in cash.[17]

References
  1. "Quickview data". GuideStar.
  2. Wemple, Erik (January 28, 2014). "MSNBC's Rachel Maddow recommits to her slam on Koch brothers". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. Dewey, Caitlin (May 18, 2018). "They're the think tank pushing for welfare work requirements. Republicans say they're experts. Economists call it 'junk science.'". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. "FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  5. "Report: The Power of Work – How Kansas' Welfare Reform is Lifting Americans Out of Poverty". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  6. "Gov. Sam Brownback: Commonsense welfare reform is working in Kansas". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  7. "Kansas Reduced Poverty by Requiring Work for Food Stamps". The Daily Signal. 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  8. "Stop Medicaid Expansion". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  9. White, Dan (April 21, 2015). "Crowded Out: The Outlook for State Higher Education Spending" (PDF). Moody's Analytics: Economic & Consumer Credit Analytics. Retrieved 2016-08-01 – via Miller Center.
  10. Hertel-Fernandez, Alexander (April 2016). "Business Associations, Conservative Networks, and the Ongoing Republican War over Medicaid Expansion" (PDF). Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 41 (2). Retrieved 2016-08-01 – via Duke Journals.
  11. "Stop Fraud". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  12. Matthews, Merrill (2014-11-08). "Reversing the Medicaid Tidal Wave in Illinois". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  13. "Expert: N.C. Needs Better Way To Monitor Medicaid Rolls". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  14. "Real Health Care Reform: Right to Shop". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  15. "Price Tags On Health Care? Only In Massachusetts". 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  16. "Vitals SmartShopper Program, State of New Hampshire Human Resources". das.nh.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  17. "Episode 655: Pay Patients, Save Money". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
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