United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-09-11 monographic deposited born digital 152 p. GA 1.13:HEHS-96-160 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160 P0b002ee180380884 f:he96160 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160 HEHS-96-160 Veterans benefits Eligibility determinations Health care services Proposed legislation Health resources utilization Health care planning Health care cost control Employee medical benefits Veterans hospitals Eligibility criteria Medicare Program Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services Medicaid Program Allen Park (MI) CHAMPUS Other Written Product HEHS

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed various proposals that would simplify and expand eligibility for veterans' health care benefits.<p/>GAO found that: (1) eligibility requirements for veterans health care benefits have become increasingly complex and a source of frustration to veterans, Department of Veterans (VA) physicians, and administrators; (2) VA does not have a defined or uniform benefits package and cannot ensure the availability of covered services; (3) VA has forced physicians to either deny needy veterans ineligible services or provide these services illegally free of charge; (4) VA health care eligibility reform could expand the types of services provided and allow veterans lacking supplemental insurance access to needed services; (5) the four legislative proposals reviewed could more than double the demand for VA outpatient services, cause VA to ration care, and force VA to seek larger appropriations to preserve its safety net mission; (6) alternative approaches including limiting the number of eligible veterans and range of benefits added or increasing cost sharing could preserve VA ability to provide specialized services; (7) although the American Legion proposal incorporates all three of these approaches and is a basis for future reform proposals, changes need to be made to reduce the number of veterans covered, exempt VA from most federal contracting laws, and designate VA as a Medicare provider; and (8) one option to reduce the number of veterans who would be eligible under the proposal and target those veterans who have low incomes and lack supplemental insurance, would be to limit VA benefits for veterans with no service-related disabilities. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160/pdf/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160.pdf GAO/HEHS-96-160 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-96-160 Other Written Product GAO/HEHS-96-160; VA Health Care: Issues Affecting Eligibility Reform Efforts; Veterans benefits Eligibility determinations Health care services Proposed legislation Health resources utilization Health care planning Health care cost control Employee medical benefits Veterans hospitals Eligibility criteria Medicare Program Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services Medicaid Program Allen Park (MI) CHAMPUS Title 38 Section 1703 38 U.S.C. 1703 Public Law 86-639 Public Law 93-82 Public Law 100-322 Public Law 102-585