Q1. What is the VA MISSION Act?
A1. The VA MISSION Act is legislation passed by Congress and signed into law on June 6, 2018. Through the MISSION Act, VA has additional opportunities to enhance our high-quality health care to our nation’s Veterans.
Q2: What does the MISSION acronym stand for?
A2: Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION).
Q3. Is the MISSION Act about privatizing Veterans’ health care?
A3. No, it’s not about privatizing VA. The MISSION Act is designed to strengthen and improve VA’s high-quality health care system.
Q4. What does the MISSION Act encompass?
A4. The MISSION Act legislation contains more than 50 sections intended to strengthen and improve VA’s ability to deliver world-class health care. As this is complex and will take place for several years, we have a visual graphic depicting how it will work:
If you’re interested in learning more you can read through the handout entitled MISSION ACT 101: How the law will improve VA’s ability to deliver health care to Veterans” on VA’s VAntage Point blog located at: https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/56414/mission-act-101-how-the-law-will-improve-vas-ability-to-deliver-health-care-to-veterans/.
Q5: How will the VA MISSION Act Improve Community Care?
A5: VA community care programs have grown in number and complexity through the years, making them complicated. The MISSION Act streamlines and improves VA’s community care programs, providing Veterans better customer service when receiving community care.
Q6: How will the VA MISSION Act expand Caregivers Eligibility?
A6: The VA MISSION Act expands eligibility for Veterans who have family members serve as their caregivers. Right now, the Caregiver program is only available to eligible Veterans who were injured on or after September 11, 2001. But, the expansion under the MISSION Act will open the program to eligible Veterans and their caregivers from all eras.
Q7. What are the key benefits for recruiting and retaining high quality staff under the MISSION Act?
A7. Key benefits for employees under the MISSION Act include:
Providing several options to help recruit and retain employees through an expanded education debt reduction program
Improving flexibility for recruitment bonuses
Allowing for relocation and retention pay so we can keep high-quality medical professionals
Piloting a scholarship program for eligible Veterans to receive medical training in return for serving in a VA hospital or clinic for four years
Q8: How will the VA MISSION Act strengthen VA’s Infrastructure?
A8: Many VA buildings are nearly 60 years old and half of them were built before 1920. We need ways to ensure we can keep up with the changes to technology and building improvements as we modernize our systems. That’s why the MISSION Act offers reviews and plans to help VA better manage its infrastructure.
Q9. When will the MISSION Act be implemented?
A9. VA is already developing processes for a multi-year effort, including plans to keep all of us informed each step of the way. We are excited to improve access to VA’s high-quality care and reaffirm our commitment to America’s Veterans
.Q10. How will the MISSION Act benefit Veterans?
A10. The MISSION Act empowers Veterans and enhances care options. VA will:
Continue to be a trusted, caring partner
Meet Veterans where they are, with the right care at the right place and the right time
Provide telehealth in their home, in a VA facility, or in the community
Focus on providing an excellent experience for Veterans and their families.
Q11. How will the MISSION Act benefit VA staff members?
A11. The MISSION Act empowers employees and strengthens VA care nationwide. The MISSION Act:
Improves ways to hire staff and keep staff onboard
Creates “Anywhere to Anywhere” telehealth linking Veterans with their care teams across state lines
Allows VA to lead with cutting-edge technology
Strengthens VA as a leader for U.S. health care
LINK: Official website for the VA MISSION Act
LINK: Download a VA MISSION Act Fact Sheet
Enhancing VA Options Under the MISSION Act:
Your VA Health Care Options. At VA, Veterans are the center of everything we do. We are constantly working to make sure you know about the health care and benefits you have earned through your service to our country. A new law, called the MISSION Act, strengthens VA’s ability to provide you with state-of-the-art care and services. The law makes several improvements to VA care that begin on June 6, 2019. To help you understand your health care options through VA, we are sharing the following educational material.
Improving Veteran Health Care. VA is devoted to providing an excellent experience for you and the important people in your life. We are strengthening our ability to deliver timely, high-quality health care through a network of providers and cutting-edge technology.
Under the VA MISSION Act, VA will:
Continue to provide you with an excellent health care experience
Deliver the right care, at the right time, at the right place
Continue to offer care through telehealth in your home, in a VA facility, or in the community
Provide more options for health care, including community care and urgent/walk-in care
1. Health Care Eligibility. VA provides a comprehensive medical benefits package to all Veterans who are enrolled through an annual patient enrollment system that categorizes Veterans based on different priority groups. Eligible Veterans can use VA health care services nationwide, including through mobile health clinics that serve rural areas and via telehealth (care through a phone or computer) in your home or on the go.
2. Community Care Eligibility. You may be able to receive care from a provider in your local community if you meet specific criteria. Generally, Veterans must be enrolled with VA to receive care, although some Veterans are not required to enroll to receive care. Eligibility further depends upon your individual health care needs or circumstances. It is important to remember that under the Veterans Community Care Program, in most instances VA must authorize your care before you receive it. Under the MISSION Act, there are six different eligibility criteria for community care. Meeting any one of these criteria for the specific care you need means you are eligible to elect to receive that care either through direct VA care or a community provider in VA’s network:
The specific care you need is not provided by VA at any facility
You reside in a U.S. state (AK, HI, or NH) or territory (Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, or U.S. Virgin Islands) that does not have a full-service VA medical facility
“Grandfathered” eligibility based on residence and the 40-mile eligibility criterion from the Choice program
The specific care you need is not available within designated access standards
You and your referring clinician decide it is in your best medical interest to receive the specific care you need in the community
VA has designated the VA medical service line delivering the specific care you need as not providing care that complies with VA’s standards for quality
3. Urgent/Walk-In Care. VA will offer an urgent/walk-in care benefit for minor injuries and illnesses, such as pink eye or ear infections. To be covered by this benefit, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care from VA within the 24 months prior to seeking this care to be eligible for this benefit. Eligible Veterans can seek this care from an urgent care facility or walk-in retail health clinic that is part of VA’s community provider network, but not all urgent care facilities or walk-in retail health clinics are in VA’s network. VA will provide additional information on this benefit.
4. Co-Payments and Insurance. Like other health care providers, VA may charge a copayment for health care. The copayment amount may be based on your enrollment priority group, the type of health care service you receive, and your financial situation. If a VA copayment applies, you are responsible for that amount whether your care is furnished directly by VA or through a community provider. VA may bill your health insurance for medical care, supplies, and prescriptions. As a result of the MISSION Act, VA no longer requires your permission to bill your health insurance carrier for health care related to a sensitive diagnosis. If you would like to submit a request to restrict this process, please contact your local VA facility’s privacy officer. If you have other forms of health care coverage (such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Indian Health Service, and tribal health), you can use VA health care benefits along with these plans.
5. Access Standards and Standards for Quality. VA is establishing designated access standards based on the type of care you need, how long you have to wait to receive that care, and your average driving time to receive that care. We are also establishing standards for quality that focus on domains such as timely care, effective care, safe care, and Veteran-centered care. Within each of these domains are specific quality measures. VA is applying both access standards and standards for quality of care it furnishes in VA facilities and is working to ensure care in the community also meets applicable standards. As VA continues to develop and refine these standards, we will provide additional information.
6. Complaint and Appeals Process. VA is committed to delivering an excellent care experience every time. We know that concerns arise, and we’re here for you. Patient advocates at your facility can assist with almost any problem you may experience. VA has different processes for clinical and non-clinical appeals, and the patient advocate can ensure your concern is handled appropriately.
LINK: Official website for the VA MISSION Act
LINK: Download a VA MISSION Act Fact Sheet
