Veterans' Affairs: Potential Costs of Changes in Licensing Requirement Outweigh Benefit

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on whether changing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care personnel licensing requirements would effect VA's health care system, focusing on: (1) comparing VA's physician employment requirements and processes with those of other federal agencies; (2) comparing VA's requirements with those of private sector health care organizations; (3) the potential benefits and costs of requiring VA physicians and registered nurses to be licensed in the state where they practice; and (4) the implications of such a licensing change on VA's use of telemedicine.