Would shift from Medicaid to VA be better for veterans?

Different Takes: Shifting Vets From Medicaid To The VA Is A Win-Win

NOV 09, 2011
It is commonly accepted that many poor veterans and their families find themselves on Medicaid, even though, in many cases, they would qualify for more generous benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA's Aid and Attendance program, for instance, helps wartime veterans receive the care they need to stay in their homes or assist with long-term care expenses. But many who are entitled to this benefit end up on Medicaid -- which has significant implications for the veteran's family members.

In 2003, the state of Washington began a pilot program to identify veterans who were falling through the cracks. In the years since, the program has served thousands of people who qualified for this assistance. At the same time, it has helped relieve some of the fiscal pressure placed on the state's Medicaid program by shifting these costs to the federal VA. Viewed as a win-win, the program has become a model for other states.

KHN asked two state officials invovled in the program's operations to explain the basics of the Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project -- how it came to be and why it is making a difference for both the state's veterans and its budget. Commentaries follow from Bill Allman, who developed and now manages the Washington State Health Care Authority's program, and from Alex Deluao of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.
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