Resolution: S-20-26: SUPPORT THE BOLSTERING OF VETERAN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RESOURCES THROUGH PROVIDER PAY REFORM

[Valerie Lile]

1  WHEREAS, veterans represented 7% (approximately 22.6 million people) of the United States
2  population in 2016¹; and

3  WHEREAS, the VA pays private contractors up to $295-300 for each authorization of private care
4  per veteran²; and

5  WHEREAS, existing health services provided directly by the United States Department of Veterans
6  Affairs remain hindered by chronic staffing shortages including 138 of 140 facilities reporting
7  shortages of physicians, especially primary care and psychiatry specialties, and 108 of 140 facilities
8  reporting shortages of nursing occupations³; and

9  WHEREAS, existing health services provided directly by the United States Department of Veterans
10  Affairs remain hindered by uncompetitive pay because of outdated Office of Personnel Management
11  (OPM) classifications preventing the ability to offer more competitive salaries or advancement
12  opportunities⁴; and

13  WHEREAS, existing health services provided directly by the United States Department of Veterans
14  Affairs remain hindered by personnel management issues including a lack of data on contract
15  physicians and physician trainees resulting in insufficient workforce planning⁵; and

16  WHEREAS, VA physicians are more knowledgeable about the care for combat injuries, post-
17  traumatic stress disorder, and other health injuries the veteran population faces⁶; and

18  WHEREAS, American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Resolution H-614-A/18 reaffirms the
19  support of adequate healthcare funding and use of community physicians “when Veterans’ Health
20  Administration facilities cannot provide adequate or timely access”⁷; now, therefore be it

21  RESOLVED, that SOMA support both staffing management and competitive pay reform at the
22  Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA) to ensure that a full, stable workforce, as budgeted by the
23  Department of Veterans Affairs, is available to meet the health needs of the United States veteran
24  population.

25  RESOLVED, that AOA support both staffing management and competitive pay reform at the
26  Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA) to ensure that a full, stable workforce, as budgeted by the
27  Department of Veterans Affairs, is available to meet the health needs of the United States veteran
28  population.

Explanatory Statement

Per Resolution H617-A/13, SOMA and the AOA already supports adequate federal funding for health care for veterans at all VHA facilities, as well as federal funding for services from community health providers when VHA facilities are unable to provide adequate or timely access. SOMA and the AOA should advocate for improvements to existing VHA health care services by overhauling staffing data and management; thus, better allowing the VHA to strengthen its current services and provider pool by offering more competitive pay. These issues have been ongoing for years. Not enough has been done to ensure the VHA, which provides care to millions of Americans, keeps a level of modernity adequate enough to meet estimated needs. Addressing these issues would help reduce the need to rely on private health services, which have not met expectations for timeliness.

The intention of this resolution is to provide broad language for SOMA and the AOA to tackle these positions in a manner they find appropriate, without limiting methodology.

References

1. Bialik, K. (2017, November 10). 5 facts about U.S. veterans. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/10/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/
2. VA Office of Inspector General. (2017, January 17). Audit of the Timeliness and Accuracy of Choice Payments Processed Through the Fee Basis Claims System. https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-15-03036-47.pdf
3. Veteran Health Administration. (2018, June 21). Steps Taken to Improve Physician Staffing, Recruitment, and Retention, but Challenges Remain. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/692661.pdf
4. Daigh, J. D. (2018, June 14). OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Occupational Staffing Shortages: FY 2018. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-18-01693-196.pdf
5. Draper, D. A. (2018, June 21). Steps Taken Lab to Improve Physician Staffing, Recruitment, and Retention, but Challenges Remain. Retrieved from https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR03/20180621/108430/HHRG-115-VR03-Wstate-DraperD-20180621.pdf
6. Tanielian, T., Farmer, C.M., Burns, R.M., Duffy, E.L., Setodji, C.M. (2018). Ready or not? Assessing the Capacity of New York State Health Care Providers to Meet the Needs of Veterans. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2298.html
7. American Osteopathic Association 98th Annual House of Delegates Meeting. (2018). https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-HOD-Resolutions-with-action.pdf

 

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Submitted by:

Benjamin Duong, MPH, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jacqueline Chung, OMS II – Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rebecca Stoll, MS, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
E’Joven Reed, MS MPA, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Amir Khiabani, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alexis O’Connell, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Katherine Beyer, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Brandon Newell, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Morgan Bivens, OMS II – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nicholas Harriel, OMS II – New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University

Action Taken:
Date:
Effective Time Period: Ongoing

 

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