University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications

Title

The Veterans Choice Act: A Qualitative Examination of Rapid Policy Implementation in the Department of Veterans Affairs

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Quantitative Health Sciences

Publication Date

2017-07-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Health Policy | Military and Veterans Studies

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Congress enacted the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 [Veterans Choice Act (VCA)] to improve access to timely, high-quality health care for Veterans. Although Congress mandated that VCA must begin within 90 days of passage of the legislation, no guidelines were provided in the legislation to ensure that Veterans had access to an adequate number of community providers across different specialties of care or distinct geographic areas, including rural areas of the country.

OBJECTIVE: To examine VCA policy implementation across a sampling of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers.

RESEARCH DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative study of 43 VHA staff and providers by conducting in-person interviews at 5 VA medical centers in the West, South, and Midwest United States. Interview questions focused on perceptions and experiences with VCA and challenges related to implementation for VHA staff and providers.

RESULTS: We identified 3 major themes to guide description of choice implementation: (1) VCA implemented too rapidly with inadequate preparation; (2) community provider networks insufficiently developed; and (3) communication and scheduling problems with subcontractors may lead to further delays in care.

CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation suggests that VCA was implemented far too rapidly, with little consideration given to the adequacy of community provider networks available to provide care to Veterans. Given the challenges we have highlighted in VCA implementation, it is imperative that the VHA continue to develop care coordination systems that will allow the Veterans to receive seamless care in the community.

DOI of Published Version

10.1097/MLR.0000000000000667

Source

Med Care. 2017 Jul;55 Suppl 7 Suppl 1:S71-S75. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000667. Link to article on publisher's site

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Medical care

PubMed ID

28146037

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS