Bill Overview
Title: Emergency Community Care Notification Time Adjustment Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies the Veterans Community Care Program by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deem as authorized emergency care or services provided by a non-VA provider to a covered veteran if the veteran (or an individual acting on the veteran's behalf) submits an application for such authorization by a deadline determined appropriate by the VA, which may not be earlier than 72 hours following the veteran's discharge from the facility. Covered veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system or those who are not enrolled but are eligible for care due to a service-connected disability.
Sponsors: Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-18]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans eligible for VA health care or eligible due to service-connected disability
Estimated Size: 17000000
- This bill pertains specifically to veterans who are part of or eligible for the Veterans Community Care Program.
- The Veterans Community Care Program applies primarily to veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system.
- Veterans who have service-connected disabilities but are not enrolled are also impacted by this act.
Reasoning
- Recognizing that the policy is designed to provide veterans with access to emergency care services, our evaluation will focus on varying demographics within the veteran community.
- The simulation aims to reflect the experiences of both high-impact beneficiaries (veterans frequently utilizing emergency care) and potentially unaffected groups.
- The implementation expenses and size limits reflect a large nationwide initiative, yet the $45 million first-year budget imposes accessibility considerations that will shape real-world effectiveness.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Former Marine) (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will be a great help. Right now, I worry about getting stuck with a medical bill if I can't get to a VA hospital in time.
- Having more than three days to submit the paperwork means I can focus more on recovering first.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Nurse (Dallas, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't had to use the VA emergency services yet, but knowing there's more flexibility in notification time is reassuring.
- It's an added layer of security should I need it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran Affairs Coordinator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This updated policy reduces some barriers veterans face, especially those in rural areas far from VA facilities.
- Overall, this should streamline access and reduce second-hand stress on me as a coordinator.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Rural Pennsylvania)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extended notification period gives us breathing room, especially living so far from primary VA facilities.
- This could help us avoid financial penalties from emergency visits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Graduate Student (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the safety net aspect, but I'm mostly healthy at the moment. It doesn't affect my day-to-day.
- Future-proofing is great for older vets or those with serious conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Air Force) (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- When you're dealing with pain and mobility issues, time matters a lot. This change can help cut risks for unexpected ER costs.
- It gives peace of mind to schedule everything without rushing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Firefighter (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's comforting to know that I won't be caught in a bureaucratic mess if I have to handle family emergencies.
- Access should be simple, and this bill helps simplify.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community Health Worker (Portland, OR)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased flexibility in the VA system means more options for the homeless veterans I work with.
- This removes one more hurdle they face in accessing necessary aid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Teacher (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the policy, but it's more of a distant reassurance for now as my primary healthcare comes from my job.
- For those in crisis situations, however, it's very impactful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Army) (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With a tight fixed income, any unexpected medical bill can be catastrophic, so this extended timeframe is a relief.
- It should ease some financial anxiety for accessing care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $45000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $46000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $51000000)
Year 3: $47000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $52000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The expansion of emergency coverage available to veterans may improve access to necessary care and reduce barriers to timely treatment.
- Implementation will require careful consideration of the administrative burden on the VA and non-VA providers processing claims.
- The indirect effects on healthcare providers authorized to or anticipated to manage the expanded emergency care responsibilities.