Bill Overview
Title: Fiscal Year 2022 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
Description: This act authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specified major medical facility projects during FY2022. The act also indicates the maximum amount that can be spent on each project.
Sponsors: Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32]
Target Audience
Population: Military veterans who utilize VA health services
Estimated Size: 9000000
- This bill pertains to major medical facilities, which are utilized primarily by veterans.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care services to U.S. military veterans.
- As of 2022, there are approximately 19 million veterans in the United States.
- Around 9 million veterans are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration, which likely represents those most directly impacted by VA medical facility projects.
Reasoning
- The target group for this policy is specifically U.S. veterans who use VA health services, which amounts to around 9 million people.
- Not every veteran will see a significant change in their well-being, as some facilities may not be located in their area or address their specific needs.
- The policy is likely to have varying impacts on well-being scores depending on individual circumstances such as proximity to improved facilities, type of medical care needed, and current health status.
- While a portion of the budget will go toward infrastructure and improvements, the immediate effects on individual well-being may not fully manifest until projects are completed, meaning that some benefits may be realized more in the medium to long term rather than immediately.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Army veteran (Austin, TX)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this funding will finally modernize our outdated facilities.
- Improved infrastructure will make it easier for me and others to access care more efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
VA hospital nurse (San Diego, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am optimistic that improved facilities will make my job more effective and satisfying.
- The upgrades are much needed as we experience high patient loads and insufficient infrastructure.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT consultant (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think any enhancements to our mental health services could really help veterans like me.
- Access to timely healthcare is crucial, and I'm hopeful these funds will be used wisely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Student (Springfield, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm considering using the VA for my healthcare needs because of potentially improved facilities.
- Better infrastructure might make a real difference in my decision to seek care at a VA facility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Flagstaff, AZ)
Age: 78 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I need better facilities to get the care I require regularly.
- I'm worried improvements might take too long and not help in time for someone like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Construction worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't use the VA often, but improvements might change that.
- A better facility could mean I rely on them more in the future, but immediate impacts are low for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Veterans Affairs counselor (Boston, MA)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that can reduce wait times and improve service capacity is welcomed.
- I've seen firsthand the strain on our systems, so this funding is crucial.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Seattle, WA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better facilities could drastically improve my access to important treatments.
- I just want to be sure these updates happen soon enough to benefit me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Graduate student (Columbus, OH)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of the policy, though my use of these services is limited.
- It's good to know that improvements are occurring for when I might need it more.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved facilities might bring more services to nearby clinics.
- Otherwise, I don't expect major changes unless closer facilities improve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2200000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Total costs and benefits heavily rely on the geographic distribution and specific nature of the authorized projects.
- Potential regulatory or legal delays could influence the timeline and final costs.
- Construction industry conditions (e.g., supply chain issues, labor availability) could introduce variability in costs.