VA mental health: additional action needed to assess rural veterans' access to intensive care : report to congressional committees / United States Government Accountability Office.
Publication Info.
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, 2023.
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Description
1 online resource (iii, 54 pages) : color illustrations
text txt rdacontent
computer c rdamedia
online resource cr rdacarrier
Note
"GAO-23-105544."
"February 2023."
In scope of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Cataloging and Indexing Program (C&I) and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
Contents
Background -- VHA uses models and utilization data to estimate veterans' demand for intensive mental health care -- VHA analyzes various data to monitor access to intensive mental health care, but does not examine data by rurality -- Some VHA data suggest rural veterans use mental health programs at lower rates than urban veterans -- VHA developed targeted guidelines for establishing residential and inpatient intensive mental health care programs but not for outpatient programs -- Conclusions -- Recommendations for executive action -- Agency comments -- Appendices.
Summary
Serious mental illness is a persistent and growing concern for our nation's veterans. Research shows veterans with serious mental illness who live in rural areas can face challenges accessing this care, such as long drive times to facilities. Among other objectives, this report examines the information VHA uses to monitor access to such care, what these data show about rural veterans' access, and the guidelines VHA uses to establish programs for rural veterans. GAO is making four recommendations, including that VHA analyze intensive mental health care utilization and performance data by rurality and assess and update, as appropriate, guidelines for establishing outpatient intensive mental health programs.
Note
Description based on online resource; title from PDF cover (GAO, viewed February 10, 2023).
