Veterans Community Care Program: VA took action on veterans' access to care, but COVID-19 highlighted continued scheduling challenges : report to Congressional addressees

Veterans Community Care Program: VA took action on veterans' access to care, but COVID-19 highlighted continued scheduling challenges : report to Congressional addressees

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
United States. Congress, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, June 2021
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
COVID-19
Community Health Services -- legislation & jurisprudence
Government Regulation
Health Workforce -- standards
United States
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. In June 2019, VA implemented a new community care program—the VCCP—under which eligible veterans can receive care from community providers. GAO has previously reported on challenges VA has faced regarding oversight of its community care programs, including the VCCP. VA’s ability to ensure veterans have timely access to care under the VCCP is especially important as VA continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report describes (1) VA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to the VCCP and (2) challenges selected VA medical facilities experienced scheduling VCCP appointments. GAO reviewed VA documentation, such as guidance for VCCP appointment scheduling, and reviewed VCCP referral and appointment data. GAO interviewed officials from VA and its two third-party administrators, and community care management and staff from six VA medical facilities, which were selected, in part, based on complexity, rurality, and location. What GAO recommends. GAO is not making new recommendations in this report but reiterates its past recommendations (1) to Congress to require VA to implement a VCCP wait-time measure and (2) to VA directing medical facility leadership to assess their community care staffing needs. VA provided general and technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 44 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918317486606676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918317486606676