VA mental health care: improvements needed in tracking and overseeing partnerships with nongovernmental entities : report to congressional committees

VA mental health care: improvements needed in tracking and overseeing partnerships with nongovernmental entities : report to congressional committees

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, January 2022
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Government Regulation
Mental Health Services -- legislation & jurisprudence
Public-Private Sector Partnerships -- organization & administration
Suicide Prevention
Veterans Health -- legislation & jurisprudence
United States
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. Many veterans struggle with mental health conditions, several of which are risk factors for suicide. VA reported that almost two-thirds of veterans that died by suicide in 2019 did not receive VHA services in 2018 or 2019. VA partners with a variety of entities, such as non-profits or academic institutions, through formal agreements aimed at expanding awareness of and access to suicide prevention activities and mental health services, in part to reach veterans not receiving VHA services. The Veterans’ Care Quality Transparency Act contained a provision for GAO to review VA’s agreements with non-VA entities that are related to suicide prevention activities and mental health services. This report examines (1) how VA tracks such agreements with nongovernmental entities across the department, and (2) how VA oversees individual agreements. GAO reviewed VA and VHA policies, the agreements VA and VHA identified, and related documentation for tracking and oversight. GAO also received demonstrations of two VA databases and interviewed VA and VHA officials and representatives from 14 selected entities that have agreements with VA or VHA with variation in type of entity and services provided. What GAO Recommends. GAO is making three recommendations, including that VA require use of the Strategic Relationships Application and that VA ensure staff know to document annual reviews as significant activity. VA concurred with these recommendations.
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, 34 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918383085706676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918383085706676