Bill Overview
Title: Improving Specialty Care for Women Veterans Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program for the recruitment, retention, and training of specialty care providers for former members of the Armed Forces who are women. Individuals serving in a medical internship or residency program or nurses and physicians who are covered providers (i.e., employees of the VA or persons providing care under the Veterans Community Care Program) may participate in the program. The VA may target individuals with expertise in certain specialty care areas for recruitment. Additionally, the VA may offer targeted individuals appropriate incentives (e.g., monetary incentives). The VA must provide individuals participating in the program with training and support related to the unique needs of women veterans. Finally, the VA must (1) provide veterans enrolled in the VA health care system with information that indicates whether a provider has participated in the program, and (2) improve the timeliness of appointments scheduled with such providers.
Sponsors: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Target Audience
Population: Women Veterans
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill focuses on enhancing specialty care for women veterans, thus the primary population impacted is women who have served in the armed forces.
- According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are approximately 2 million women veterans in the United States.
- The bill indirectly affects healthcare providers within the VA system as it involves recruitment, retention, and training incentives.
- The broader group that will benefit from improved healthcare services includes both current women veterans using VA services and potential future women veterans.
Reasoning
- The policy is specifically targeting women veterans, who number around 2 million in the U.S., aiming to improve their healthcare access, particularly in specialty care.
- The allocation of funds over ten years suggests a sustained effort to address gaps in current VA specialty healthcare services, particularly those that might affect women's health.
- Not all women veterans will use VA services equally. Some may have private healthcare or might not need specialty care, thus the impact on individuals will vary.
- Healthcare providers involved will experience changes based on training and possible incentives. This, however, is secondary compared to the direct impact on women veterans who need improved services.
- Population diversity should include veterans who are in different stages of life and have various healthcare needs, as well as some involved healthcare providers, though their entry into this simulation is purely for perspective rather than primary policy targets.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, currently a student (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find it challenging to get timely appointments for my specific health needs at the VA.
- Any improvement in access to specialists would be very beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retired (San Diego, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Appointments are often delayed which aggravates health conditions.
- A specialized program would likely improve my long-term health outcomes.
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 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Part-time worker at a nonprofit (Charleston, SC)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health services are critical and hopefully this program includes a competent workforce.
- Training providers in specific needs for women veterans is necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Healthcare provider at a VA hospital (Denver, CO)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Exciting to see more support for specialty training and recruitment.
- Hopefully this attracts newer providers who can address more specialized needs.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, presently unemployed (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- High hopes for reduced wait times and better access to specialists.
- Injuries need immediate attention that wasn't possible before.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Small business owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Specialty care is a must but current conditions are inadequate.
- Better information about available services could prevent serious health decline.
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 |
Retired educator (New York, NY)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wait times have been historically long, affecting heart condition management.
- Expecting improved wait times and specialized training to enhance healthcare quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Office worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health issues are underserved and I hope this policy remedies that.
- Effective training of providers can make a significant difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Volunteer coordinator (Boston, MA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Optimistic that new providers will lead to better overall care.
- Volunteering could be more effective if veterans' needs are better met.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Full-time parent (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Chronic pain management is lacking in current VA resources.
- Looking forward to better trained providers who understand my unique needs.
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 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $85000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $105000000)
Year 3: $90000000 (Low: $68000000, High: $110000000)
Year 5: $105000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $130000000)
Year 10: $130000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $160000000)
Year 100: $260000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $320000000)
Key Considerations
- The number of women veterans leveraging VA services may fluctuate, affecting cost estimates.
- Recruitment and retention of specialty care providers can be challenging and impact service delivery timelines.
- The integration of newly recruited providers into existing VA systems may present logistical challenges.
- Ensuring data privacy and purchase compliance when managing healthcare records and IT upgrades in the VA sector is critical.