Providing Veterans With Service-Connected Dental Problems Higher Priority at VA Clinics Could Reduce Fee-Program Costs
HRD-81-82
Published: Jun 19, 1981. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 1981.
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Highlights
GAO was requested to review selected aspects of the Veterans Administration's (VA) dental program.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should take steps to improve the reliability of data reported under the automated medical information system program. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should establish workload indicators for dental personnel. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Medical Administrative Service at each VA medical center to determine whether a veteran has a service-connected dental condition at the time of admission. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should implement the recommendations in the March 1980 GAO report that VA expand the use of expanded function dental auxiliaries. |
A followup will be provided in a report concerning VA staffing guidelines.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should adapt the American Dental Association and Department of Defense dental procedures reporting systems for use by VA dental clinics. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should establish a uniform 40-mile definition of geographical inaccessibility and require specific justification from VA clinics for any deviation from the rule. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct VA dental clinics to place a higher priority on the provision of dental care to outpatients with service-connected dental conditions than on the provision of routine dental care to inpatients with no service-connected dental condition. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct VA clinics to provide dental examinations to inpatients not service connected for dental conditions only if the clinic's staff and facilities are not needed for the provision of care to veterans service connected for dental conditions unless (1) the admitting and/or attending physician determines that there are compelling medical reasons for giving the veteran an examination; or (2) the veteran has a dental emergency. |
VA has cut back on the scope of examinations which meets the intent of the recommendation.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should enforce established procedures for authorizing fee-basis care, including requirements that: (1) fee-basis care be authorized only if the clinic cannot schedule treatment within 60 days, considering the total clinic resources; (2) the availability of care at VA facilities near the veteran's home be determined before fee-basis care is authorized; and (3) fee-basis care not be a prerogative of the veteran. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should strengthen procedures for authorizing outpatient dental care for nonservice-connected dental conditions to insure that such care is authorized only if treatment was begun while the veteran was an inpatient and if completion of the treatment is necessary in relation to a medical problem for which it was prescribed. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should implement recommendations made in the 1973 GAO report to: (1) expand the use of two-chair dentistry; (2) expand the use of dental hygienists and assistants; (3) expand the use of trained medical administrative personnel to perform fee program administrative duties; and (4) reduce the number of broken appointments. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
Dental servicesHealth care programsHospital care servicesMilitary cost controlVeterans benefitsVeterans disability compensationVeterans' medical careVeteransDentistsVeterans hospitals