#Middlebury #Veterans #HealthCare #VeteranInteroperabilityPledge
VETERANS POST
By Freddy Groves
The Department of Veterans Affairs has hooked up with 13 civilian health care systems with the goal of improving veteran health care, whether those veterans are getting their care in or out of the VA. The Veteran Interoperability Pledge has been made by those health care systems with agreements to exchange information and collaborate with the VA in several ways: Identify veterans when they go for civilian care, connect veterans with resources (especially ones that reduce the veteran’s expenses) and coordinate care.
The information will be shared both ways. Specifically, the VA will:
- Let the civilian health care systems into the VA system to determine a veteran’s status.
- Automate the process of determining eligibility and referrals.
- Let the health systems have access to health resources at the state and federal levels
- Let the health systems have access to clinical and admin data to assess and coordinate care
I scarcely know where to begin … If a veteran is seeking civilian care, why? Is it because the local VA just isn’t close enough, or is it because he feels he’ll get better care at a civilian provider? Will the veteran have a say in whether his personal information is shared with the VA after seeing a civilian provider?
A recent VA news release states that the VA will “safeguard the privacy and security” of veteran information. Is anyone concerned about hacking? This year one health care group (of the 13 systems that have made the pledge) had a data breach of 1,600 patients. Two years ago another had a data breach that affected over a million people. Two months ago another health care system suffered a breach that affected thousands. Two months ago one had a breach that affected tens of thousands in approximately 40 states. And on and on …
The VA’s news release added a tiny note, that they will strive to “provide proof-of-concept” in early 2024. Which means this is a trial to see if it works.
© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
