As the veteran population ages and healthcare options expand, it might be beneficial for the VHA to reassess how it evaluates hospital performance, a new study suggested.
Critics: Some of the $2 Billion in Contracts VA Cut Were Essential for Veteran Care
VA Secretary Doug Collins announced in a video in late February that VA had cut $2 billion in cuts to contracts thus far. While he said the funds would be redirected to veterans’ health care and benefits, critics claimed the cuts will do the opposite.
More than 1,000 Firings at VA Are Just the Beginning of ‘Generational Change’
President Donald Trump began his second term with a flurry of executive orders that have resulted in the firing of thousands of employees, including many at VA, with the promise of deeper cuts to come.
Issues Weren’t That Different in VA 60 Years Ago
With news every day about VA staffing cuts, the cancellation of contracts and, essentially, the way the agency does business, it is interesting to look back to what might seem to us as a simpler time – 60 years ago, when U.S. Medicine began.
Outgoing VA Secretary McDonough Concerned About Budget, Slow Hiring
In his final press conference, VA Secretary Denis McDonough discussed what he thinks should be the top priority for incoming department leaders.
Will New Supreme Court Ruling Change Ability of VA Leaders to Interpret New Legislation?
Republicans on the House VA Committee are looking to a recent Supreme Court case as an opportunity to strip the power from VA when it comes to interpreting how to enact legislation.
VA Hospitals Went from Worse Than Community Facilities in 2017 to Outperforming Them in 2021
With the debate heating up about how much VA care should be shifted to the community, a new study found that VA hospitals changed in a 5-year period from 2017 to 2021 from providing worse experiences for Black and poor-health patients to outperforming community hospitals for those and all other patient subgroups examined.
Congressional Republicans Seek to Further Expand VA’s Use of Community Care
Republican legislators are looking to expand VA’s use of community care further with the coming Congress.
Understanding Long-Term Surgical Outcomes Can Help Ensure Treatments Align With Patient Priorities
Surgical outcome studies often focus on mortality, complications or hospital readmissions. While such outcomes are important, they don’t always align with matters most to older patients, particularly those nearing the end of life.
Audit, Feedback Increase HF Medication Management by VA Pharmacists
Giving more active feedback to primary care pharmacists about their heart failure patients led to more interactions and a greater number of medication adjustments, according to a presentation at a recent conference.
Operator of Fraudulent Pain Clinics Took Advantage of Veterans, Servicemembers, Others; Sentencing Scheduled for February
Michael Kestner, the owner and operator of medical clinics in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, was convicted last month in federal court of fraudulently billing Medicare and TRICARE for $35 million in unnecessary opioid injections.
Did VA ‘Cry Wolf’ About Budget Shortfall? Legislators Claim It Did
Legislators are accusing VA of crying wolf after a recent budget update revealed that the department did not need $3 billion in supplemental benefits funding after all and that it might not be facing a healthcare funding shortfall next year, either.
How Will the Trump Administration Alter VA Operations? Some Pundits Say to Look at Project 2025 Proposals
As President-elect Donald Trump gathers his Cabinet and prepares to take office for the second time, questions remain about how this new administration will attempt to transform government agencies, including VA.
Legislators Question Why VISN Leaders Were Unaware of Hampton VAMC Problems
Lawmakers are seeking answers to how quality control issues could manifest and then linger at the Hampton, VA, VAMC for years without VISN leaders being aware of them.
Taxpayers Likely Overpaid by Millions for Veterans Dual Enrolled in the VHA, Medicare Advantage
The federal government appeared to have been massively overpaying for care provided to veterans dually enrolled in VA healthcare and Medicare Advantage plans, according to a new analysis.
Report Highlights the Needs and Importance of Military, Veteran Caregivers
More than 14 million Americans now provide daily care to wounded, ill or injured military servicemembers or veterans, according to a new RAND report commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Congress Passed a $3 Billion Emergency Funding Bill to Help VA’s Budget Shortfall
Congress passed an emergency funding bill providing an additional $3 billion to VA to address an unexpected shortfall in the FY2024 budget for the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Equal, Equitable and Excellent: A Call to Action for Indigenous Care
Native Americans serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any racial or ethnic group. According to the Office of Health Equity, analysis of fiscal year 2016 to 2019 data revealed that American Indian veterans, less than half were enrolled in VA care.
Nearly $15 Billion Budget Shortfall Must Be Addressed This Month, VA Officials Said
Congress recessed for August without passing legislation to close the nearly $15 billion budget shortfall VA is facing for this year and next. The shortfall, which came to light in July, includes $2.88 billion for the remainder of FY2024 and $12 billion for FY2025.
Essien Pushes Pharmacoequity in VA Healthcare to Combat Disparities
A general internist and health services researcher with the Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP) at the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Utibe Essien, MD, MPH, has devoted his career to defining and then breaking down the systemic problems that lead to healthcare inequity.
OIG: VISN Leaders Had No Awareness of Toxic Work Environment, Cardiac Surgery Delays at the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
At the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC, a toxic work environment caused by a handful of facility leaders resulted in mass resignations by top clinical staff and the closure of its cardiothoracic surgery program, according to a report from the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
VA Projects $2.88 Billion Shortfall for This Fiscal Year; $12 Billion for Next Year
VA is projecting a $2.88 billion budget shortfall for the remainder of fiscal year 2024 and another $12 billion for FY2025. This comes after VA leaders spent this spring assuring Congress that its FY2025 budget request, while lean, would be sufficient to do the job.
Is VA Avoiding Reporting Requirements in Supply Chain Modernization?
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are upset at VA for delays in providing Congress with information about its ongoing Supply Chain Modernization (SCM) project.
Congress member Calls for McDonough Resignation Over Questionable Bonuses
VA Secretary Reminds Committee He Sought Investigation WASHINGTON, DC—A member of the House VA Committee has called on VA Secretary Denis McDonough to resign over the nearly $11 million in bonuses inappropriately paid to senior VA Central Office (VACO) officials....
Huge Financial Impact From Lapses in, Misuse of VA Prime Vendor Program
A recent audit of VA’s Medical Surgical Prime Vendor Program (MSPV) found that lack of oversight of the system, which is meant to save VA money by better leveraging the department’s buying power, is costing VA hundreds of millions a year.
Fewer Deaths After Serious Illness in Veterans Treated With PARC Care Model
After a serious illness, veterans who received medical care via the Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model experienced fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital compared to those not treated with PARC, according to a recent study.
Processing of ICE Medical Claims by VA Sparks Controversy in Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to prohibit the VA from processing claims for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Service Corps at the Department of Homeland Security.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Letter: Constituents Frustrated With VA Disability Exams
Veterans are reporting disability exam experiences with third-party contractors that are “inadequate and unprofessional,” and it has a leading Democratic senator asking what the VA plans to do about it.
Military Veterans With Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies Tend to Be Underdiagnosed
Men with sex chromosome aneuploidies, meaning they have an additional X or Y chromosome, successfully serve in the U.S. military, but they have been greatly underdiagnosed and have higher medical morbidity with aging, according to a recent study.
Survey Suggests MTF Employees Remain Unhappy With DoD’s New Genesis EHR
A recent survey of employees at military treatment facilities shows significant dissatisfaction with DoD’s new electronic health record system (EHR), which completed its 7-year rollout in March.