Health Care Needs of Veterans in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Should Be Assessed

The Veterans Administration's (VA's) furnishing of hospital care and medical treatment for nonservice-connected disabilities under contracts with private facilities and arrangements with private physicians in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was reviewed. The review was directed toward: the use made of the VA's authority to provide medical treatment and hospital care for nonservice-connected disabilities under contractual arrangements with private facilities and physicians both prior to and following the enactment of Public Law 94-581, the justification which may exist for a special authority to provide such contract care and services, and the conditions which should be imposed on such an authority in the interest of equitable geographic allocation of VA resources.