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Veterans' Health Care: Potential Effects of Health Reforms on VA Construction

T-HRD-93-7 Published: Mar 03, 1993. Publicly Released: Mar 03, 1993.
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Highlights

GAO discussed the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) health facilities construction program, focusing on: (1) the impact of proposed health care reforms, including revised VA benefits eligibility, on the need for and size of VA construction projects; and (2) VA consideration of construction alternatives in determining the need for construction projects. GAO noted that: (1) universal health care coverage would reduce the demand for VA-sponsored care by 50 percent for inpatient care and 40 percent for outpatient care; (2) inclusion of nursing home care under universal care would lower demand for VA-supported long-term care; (3) decreased demand could create significant excess capacity in VA facilities; (4) VA hospital and nursing home bed requirements depend on how Congress alters VA health care eligibility; (5) VA does not adequately consider the availability of community and military facilities, which could reduce health care and construction costs, when it plans facility construction; and (6) demonstration projects could show whether alternative delivery methods are cost-effective and meet veterans' needs.

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Community hospitalsFacility constructionHealth care cost controlHealth care planningHealth care reformHealth resources utilizationHospital care servicesNursing homesProjectionsVeterans benefitsVeterans hospitalsVeterans' medical care