Bill Overview
Title: Veterans Patient Advocacy Act
Description: This bill requires the Office of Patient Advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration to ensure (1) there is not fewer than one patient advocate for every 13,500 veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, and (2) highly rural veterans may access the services of patient advocates. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the implementation of such policies.
Sponsors: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system
Estimated Size: 9200000
- The legislation targets veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
- It directly affects those working within or utilizing the services of the Office of Patient Advocacy.
- The advocacy aspect implies an impact on veterans seeking health care advocacy services.
- The legislation encompasses the current and future enrollees of the VA health care system.
Reasoning
- The policy targets veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, currently estimated at 9.2 million individuals.
- With the specified budget, policy benefits have to be distributed among this significant population, ensuring not fewer than one patient advocate per 13,500 veterans.
- This advocacy is crucial for addressing systemic healthcare issues and ensuring better access and satisfaction in healthcare provisions.
- The policy's impact will vary based on veteran's current access to healthcare, geographical location (with emphasis on high rural accessibility), and personal health advocacy needs.
- Some veterans will experience immediate improvements in healthcare satisfaction, while for others, the effects may be less pronounced or delayed.
- Ensuring that highly rural veterans can access services might require additional logistics and budget considerations.
- It is expected that many veterans will see an improvement in their Cantril Wellbeing Scores with enhanced advocacy support, though this would depend on how efficiently and equitably the implementation is carried out.
Simulated Interviews
Retired veteran (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been satisfied with my VA healthcare but often find myself navigating paperwork issues.
- An advocate could make my hospital visits more streamlined and less stressful.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Homemaker (Rural Montana)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle to get timely care because of the distance and lack of understanding of my health needs.
- If someone could advocate on my behalf, it would be a massive relief.
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 | 4 |
Health admin at private clinic (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I handle most of my health needs outside the VA, but their advisors could definitely help streamline my VA visits.
- I think specialized advocates can save time and reduce the frustration of navigating large healthcare systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Part-time Retail (Chicago, IL)
Age: 57 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- VA's processes can be really overwhelming, especially with PTSD making everything feel more stressful.
- A reliable advocate could be a mental health boon and encourage more regular treatments.
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 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Data Analyst (San Diego, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm new to all this, and it feels daunting. Having someone to guide me through VA processes would be comforting.
- It's not just about care, but minimizing stress.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been working with the VA for counseling, and an advocate could definitely help lessen the red tape.
- The system is complex, and streamlining services could increase my focus on wellbeing.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Community Organizer (New York, NY)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an advocate myself, I see the immense benefit this bill could bring in empowering fellow veterans.
- There are a lot of unique healthcare needs that only specialized, informed advocacy can address.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Rancher (Rural Texas)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having the option of an advocate I can contact easily would certainly boost my confidence in managing my healthcare.
- For those of us in rural areas, this piece of legislation is indeed blessing-worthy.
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 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Freelance Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being relatively healthy, my interactions with the VA are limited, but advocacy would smooth out some of those bureaucratic wrinkles.
- It would be beneficial for times when I feel processes are cumbersome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's challenging balancing work and managing healthcare through their vast system.
- If patient advocacy can enhance my health interaction experience with the VA, I'm all for it.
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 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Year 2: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Year 3: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Year 5: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Year 10: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Year 100: $64830000 (Low: $58440000, High: $71220000)
Key Considerations
- The policy mandates a specific ratio of advocates to veterans, implying a need for significant hiring.
- Funding requirements must account for salaries, benefits, administration, and potential infrastructure expansion.
- Accessing patient advocates in highly rural areas may necessitate new technological solutions, increasing costs.
- There is no immediate revenue or savings associated with the policy, emphasizing its cost-focused impact.