VA Access Update, Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability
Act of 2014 (VACAA) and Tribal Health Program Reimbursement
Agreements
Northwest Portland Area Indian
Health Board Quarterly Meeting
October 21, 2014
Update on VA Access
Goals of Accelerating Access to Care Initiative:
• Increase timely access to care for Veterans patients
• Decrease the number of Veterans patients on the electronic
wait list (EWL) and waiting greater than 30 days for their care
• Standardize the process and tools for ongoing monitoring and
access management at VA facilities
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
2
Accelerating Access to Care Initiative - Implementation
• Systematically reviewed clinic capacity to maximize ability to
provide Veterans timely appointments
• Identified the resources required to provide timely care
• VA increased the use of care in the community through the
non-VA care program (FEE)
• Each facility reached out to Veterans to coordinate the
acceleration of their care – either to fee out or reschedule
with VA at patients preference
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
3
Accelerating Access to Care Initiative - Implementation
Progress Toward Achieving Goals
• Electronic Wait List (EWL) in VISN 20 reduced from 11,613 on
5/15/14 to 3,003 on 9/1/14
Challenges
• Lack of supply in community
• Difficulty in recruiting providers in rural areas
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
4
VA Secretary Robert McDonald
• Continue to improve access to VA health care
• Regain trust of Veterans we serve
- Quarterly local town hall meetings for Veterans,
VSOs, other stakeholders
• Mr. McDonald and Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson
meet with VA employees, Veterans and stakeholders
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
5
Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
(VACAA) – Enacted August 7, 2014
Section 101
• Eligible Veterans may seek care from non-VA health
care entities if:
- Unable to secure an appointment within 30 days
- Reside more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility
• Veterans Choice Card
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
6
Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
(VACAA) – Enacted August 7, 2014
Section 102
• Increased outreach to encourage establishment of
reimbursement agreements with Tribal Organizations
• Report on feasibility of entering into agreements
with Urban Clinics
• Report on feasibility of reimbursement for treatment
of non-Native Veterans at IHS/Tribal Clinics
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
7
Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
(VACAA) – Enacted August 7, 2014
Section 201
• Independent assessment of VA’s health care delivery
system
Section 202
• Independent commission on care
Section 204
• Evaluate use of Mobile Medical Units in rural areas
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
8
Improving Access for American Indian and Alaska
Native Veterans through Reimbursement Agreements
• VA recognizes and values our relationships with Tribes
• Eligible American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)
Veterans can choose to receive their health care from the
Tribal Health Program (THP) facility and/or VA Medical
Center (VAMC)
• Reimbursement agreements with Tribal Health Programs
focus on increasing coordination, collaboration, and
resource-sharing for eligible AI/AN Veterans
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
9
Improving Access for American Indian and Alaska
Native Veterans through Reimbursement Agreements
• The agreements promote quality health care through
collaborative relationships
• Over $12.5M in reimbursements to date servicing
approximately 4,000 Veterans
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
10
Basic THP Process for Establishing Agreements
•
•
•
•
•
Using the agreement template, the VAMC, THP, and Contracting Officer work together to complete the draft reimbursement
agreement.
The national template shall always be used.
Concurrently, the THP works to satisfy local implementation criteria.
Once the draft is complete, it will be reviewed by VA’s Chief Business Office, Network Contracting Office and Regional Counsel,
respectively.
VETERANS
HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION
After final signatures,
reimbursement
for direct care can commence.
11
Questions Regarding Reimbursement Agreements
•
Jodie Waters, VISN 20 Planner,
[email protected], 360-567-4684
•
Terry Bentley, Tribal Government Relations Specialist,
Western Region, [email protected],
541-440-1271
•
VHA Chief Business Office for Purchased Care,
[email protected]
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
12