The VA sponsors outside research conducted at the MITRE Corporation (LINK and overview, LINK). They, in turn, subcontract with other researchers like the RAND corporation. RAND has a webpage (LINK) dedicated to opinion pieces, report downloads, and other information. They were subcontracted by the MITRE Corporation to conduct three assessments on the “Choice Act.”
It is somewhat amusing to read how MITRE’s work includes tips on increasing VA’s engagement with veterans.
…Veteran Experience and Engagement: Learn innovative ways to be part of the discussion with veterans, increase veteran engagement, and better understand their experience with VA, and empower them to improve their transition to civilian life and beyond…
They should read a few years of BVA denials for a better sense of veterans’ actual engagement experiences with VA. No fine sounding unbiased words in those!
The RAND Corporation wrote three book/assessments which can be accessed and read from this webpage (LINK) as well as the 24-page summary (click image).
“This summary of three RAND’s assessments for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) examines veteran demographics and health care needs, VA’s health care capabilities, and authorities and mechanisms for purchasing care.”
Opinion: This key finding indicates that the whole discriminatory priority group scheme should be trashed:
The three-decade decline in the number of veterans will continue. The total number of veterans is expected to decrease by 19 percent between 2014 and 2024, assuming no major policy changes or large-scale conflicts.
Priority group regulations are just used to deny care, as in this case–Citation Nr: 1536700 (LINK).
…In addition, the Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities and his income exceeds the necessary income thresholds for purposes of enrollment in the VA healthcare system. He does not dispute these facts. The Board also acknowledges the Veteran’s contentions that he should be eligible to received VA medical care benefits based on his military service…
Order
Entitlement to a higher level of priority for VA medical care benefits is denied. _
Thomas H. O’Shay Acting Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Decision Date: 08/27/15
The geographical income thresholds are outdated. This veteran is not a rich man in NYC. And this is a case of “penny wise and pound foolish” because if he is still covered by his spouse’s private insurance, the VA could bill them and get paid. A big plus for taxpayers.
I’m not even sure if the co-pays are wise or fair even if the blasted Priority Groups are eliminated.
asknod
brewerkelli
cspencer02
jamesaurora
kcraveiro
Laura
Veterans Claims Help 
Vote TRUMP
The VA billed my private insurance $1200 for doing a couple of freeze jobs on some little spots on my forehead. If I had know they would do this I would never have let them. Next time I see them I will just ask for a drug since I pay no copays on them. Since we do have a shrinking Vet population I imagine all vets should get VA care just to keep the system running. I don’t understand how a system can be so FUBAR. When it was just for SC vets it was awful so just cutting back on eligibility is not the answer. There is an answer but the VA does not want to hear it.
John, I’m not sure why you think your private insurance should NOT help defray the costs of your care. Is your objection philosophical or are you harmed?
I think that the recovered funds even stay with your local facility. That’s a good thing if it means they can fill more jobs, hire and train staff, and see more vets quicker. Maybe have more flu shot events, etc…I don’t see anything wrong with this unless co-pays become a problem. As long as the payments aren’t used for parties in Orlando and Vegas!
Re: Flu shot events— my local pharmacy has a flu-shot policy that takes anything insurance -wise. If you do not have coverage, no sweat. You just get one anyway. No questions asked. Dang near year ’round now. I used to drive 45 miles to get mine “free” at American Lake VAMC every fall -but no mileage for driving. So why do we have priority groups again? CMOH gets Pri 1? Purple Hearts get Pri 3? and on and on. You’ve have to have served in the Inactive Coast Guard Reserve during a time of peace to merit Pri 8. Or, just make a few hundred more than what is considered geographically “correct” to merit nooooo coverage.
fairness >simplify = efficiency > cost savings.
If you served, you deserve.
Also, don’t forget about the Walmart program with VA for flu shots.
Well, my rather jaded view says let’s go to “Everyone/Everywhere”Care. Eco friendly logic. Less energy used to seek medical at the closest outlet with appropriate care. Certainly, VA has many fine programs like their prostheses depts. which are indispensible, but if you have to wait a month to drive 90 miles (one way) to see a doctor and hopefully get reimbursed at $.41 1/2 cents per mile when the federal deduct is $.52 cents, it isn’t logical NOT to write a note to the doctor telling him it’s on VA. A set -aside parallel medical system which is tardy and makes medical errors more frequently cannot be defended even if within the magic 40 miles or so. 40 miles in an urban environment is an hour spent driving to the doctor’s office. I live rurally and I can be in a top-notch hospital or doctor’s office in 15 minutes. Why force a Vet into such a narrow confine medically? There are certain facilities which are quite valuable in time of war traumas. There are other VAMC/University cohabitations which are also excellent, but rationing it out (doling it out) to Vets is painful to watch.