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VA Health Care: Improving Veterans' Access Poses Financial and Mission-Related Challenges

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Oct. 25, 1996
Report No. HEHS-97-7
Subject
Summary:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs one of the nation's largest health care delivery systems, including more than 170 hospitals and more than 200 free-standing clinics. Veterans must often travel long distances, however, to receive care at these facilities. VA has a policy encouraging its hospitals to improve access to care for eligible veterans. As a result, many hospitals have either planned or established new, fee-standing outpatient clinics, known as "access points." Access points provide primary care to veterans and generally refer those needing specialized services or inpatient stays to VA hospitals. This report examines VA's policy for establishing access points. GAO discusses the legal, financial, and mission-related implications of VA's efforts to establish access points.

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