Bill Overview
Title: VETTs on Campus Act
Description: This bill expands the Veterans Community Care Program to include health care providers at clinics and hospitals of institutions of higher learning approved for educational assistance furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsors: Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans attending colleges and universities
Estimated Size: 180000
- The bill pertains to veterans who are attending institutions of higher learning.
- The support networks and healthcare infrastructure of these institutions will be impacted.
- The Veterans Community Care Program is being expanded, likely affecting the veterans enrolled in this program, as well as the healthcare providers who will be serving them.
- Since the act is introduced in the U.S. Congress, it primarily impacts U.S. veterans.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets veterans attending higher education institutions by improving their access to healthcare. Therefore, the primary demographic will include veterans aged under 40, who are more likely to be continuing their education with GI Bill benefits.
- The distribution of impacts will vary based on the availability of healthcare services currently accessed by veterans and how much this expansion will improve or affect their current experience.
- Due to funding constraints, not all veterans will be able to benefit from the expansion in the same manner, especially those in institutions with inadequate existing healthcare facilities.
- The policy's effect on well-being will be more substantial for those veterans with unmet healthcare needs, who would have encountered challenges accessing quality care earlier.
- There will be little to no impact on veterans who already have sufficient healthcare access or on non-students, which is why they are also included in the simulation for completeness of scope.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a veteran who is a college student, this policy seems like a game changer. I really struggle with accessing mental health services that understand my background.
- If this allows me to get easier access to specialized services provided by my college, it could significantly improve my quality of life.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student (San Diego, CA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy sounds beneficial for student veterans who don't have adequate health coverage.
- Personally, I already have a good plan through my job, so I don't think it will change much for me.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Healthcare Provider at University Clinic (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a healthcare provider standpoint at a university, this sounds challenging if resources aren't allocated properly.
- We already struggle with staffing, and this may increase demand without increasing capacity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I definitely struggle with mental health, and accessing care has been tough.
- If this policy opens more doors on campus for vet-focused care, that's a big yes from me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Managing chronic pain while studying is really hard, and sometimes accessing specialists through VA has been difficult.
- With this policy, if local healthcare systems expand, this could make my life and studies easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
University Healthcare Administrator (Tallahassee, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I’m not a veteran, using existing resources to expand care is great. However, it depends heavily on funding and execution.
- We would need clear guidelines from the government on implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Community Vet Center Counselor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A focus on healthcare for veteran students is overdue but I worry about reaching students not on campuses.
- This bill might leave out those doing remote or part-time studies who cannot access on-campus facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Educator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If implemented well, having more access to services could improve classroom engagement amongst veterans.
- However, the transition needs to be smooth to prevent disruption in services.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Columbus, OH)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t really have health issues right now so it doesn't directly affect me, but it's reassuring to know there are options if needed in the future.
- It's a good step for those needing mental health supports.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Researcher (Denver, CO)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My work involves researching veteran issues, so this policy is of academic interest to me.
- From a personal standpoint, it won't directly impact my wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $255000000 (Low: $205000000, High: $310000000)
Year 3: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $320000000)
Year 5: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $340000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- Healthcare provider capacity at educational institutions needs assessment to meet increased demand.
- Data on veteran student health needs and usage patterns is crucial for accurate funding allocation.
- Concurrent support services like counseling and veteran administration need bolstering alongside healthcare efforts.