Physicians and specialties in the Veterans Health Administration's community care network

Abstract: Increasing veterans’ access to care is a key policy priority for both the US Congress and Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Under the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act), veterans may access care in the community, at VHA expense, provided they meet certain requirements such as an extended appointment wait or drive time for VHA care. To operationalize the MISSION Act, VHA contracted with Optum and TriWest, allowing veterans access to their health care networks and reimbursing their clinicians at Medicare rates. Millions of veterans have accessed community care at an estimated cost of 25% of the VHA’s medical care budget in 2024. Our aim was to describe the specialty coverage and representativeness of the VHA community care network.

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