VA Health Care: Medical Centers Need to Improve Collection of Veterans' Copayments
HRD-90-77
Published: Mar 28, 1990. Publicly Released: May 04, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed whether the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented a cost-effective copayment billing and collection process.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
---|---|---|
Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should require VA medical centers to collect copayments from veterans or make payment arrangements while veterans are still at the centers. |
Closed – Implemented
VA has mandated that medical centers collect copayments for outpatient care provided to veterans, has developed a manual of procedures, and is training all relevant staff on identifying and billing veterans. Billing procedure software was shipped to each VA facility in August and September 1992.
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Topics
Billing proceduresCollection proceduresCost effectiveness analysisDebt collectionHealth care costsHealth care servicesPaymentsVeteransVeterans hospitalsDeductibles and Coinsurance