Veterans Choice Would Not Have Been Paying Contractors

VA Seeks Contractor to Support ‘Veterans Choice’ Healthcare Program
Executive.Gov
Mary-Louise Hoffman
September 17, 2014

Veterans Affairs Department logoThe Department of Veterans Affairs plans to contract a vendor to help the agency implement measures mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014.

VA said Friday on the FedBizOpps website it wants information on potential third-party administrators that can facilitate and manage a program aimed at helping eligible veterans seek care from private health providers.

A TPA would produce and distribute Veterans Choice Cards as well as establish a call center to address program inquiries from both patients and clinicians.

The contractor would also coordinate medical referrals and use a system for managing claims, payments and follow-on services, according to the agency.

VA is slated to hold an industry day on Wednesday in Denver, Colorado to provide more information on the upcoming contract and gather comments from interested vendors.

As you can see, this is a huge sum of money that was not paid to VA employees.

Non-VA Medical Care Program
Fact Sheet for Interested Providers
Patient-Centered Community Care and Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act

The Veteran’s Choice Program, or Choice Program, is a new, temporary program that provides Veterans the ability to receive medical care in the community if VA cannot schedule an appointment within 30 days of the Veteran’s preferred date, or the date determined medically necessary by their provider, or if the Veteran resides more than 40 miles from their closest VA medical facility. It was authorized under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 and provides $10B for non-VA medical care to eligible Veterans. The temporary program will end when the allocated funds of $10B are used or no later than August 7, 2017. The Choice Program does not impact existing VA health care or any other Veteran benefits.

You can hear all of this in this video. If you think it is boring, it is how stuff works when you members of Congress hold the hearings and make decisions for what they have jurisdiction over, including the VA.