The final report from the Oklahoma Veterans Pilot Program, a private/public initiative, has been released.
The report recommends a three-year test period to demonstrate that proposed changes in health care access and delivery programs will be more cost-effective and efficient than the current system.
It recommends placing health care outsourcing under state control and management as opposed to continuing the contracting of services through the federal Veterans Choice Program.
Two years ago, there was an effort to establish an Oklahoma Veterans Pilot Program to better serve the state’s approximately 302,000 veterans; more than 1,400 veterans are in the state’s seven veterans homes. Oklahoma has the 10th-largest veteran population per capita, but ranks only 18th among the states for federal allocations for U.S. Veterans Administration health care services.
The report concludes that moving contracted services to the state would allow for:
- A greater state service network of providers.
- A quicker response to issues that may develop within the provider network.
- A quicker response to issues that may develop.
- A greater transparency and accountability of funds.
- An ongoing outcome measurement and survey process.
- A simplified application process and appointment scheduling system.
It recommends requesting $250 million over three years from the Veterans Choice Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs be allocated to the Oklahoma Veterans Pilot Program. Daily oversight and management of the Oklahoma Veterans Program would be placed at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). The veterans pilot program will be kept independent from regular ODVA operations.
“This is the first model of its kind to significantly offer a better way of providing health care,” said Pete Peterson, chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Council, which represents 23 veterans service organizations and eight associate organizations in Oklahoma. “I hope all veterans and veterans service organizations will get behind this plan, and encourage the president and our congressional delegation to support this initiative.”
The report was based on surveys completed by nearly 3,000 veterans across the state. The survey showed that 47 percent of veterans who use Veterans Administration benefits were satisfied with their appointment times, while 72 percent of those who use private health care providers were satisfied with appointment times.
Pilot program leaders want a veteran’s appointment goal of 20 days because of concerns expressed in the survey over long wait times. The Veterans Administrations standard is to be 30 days, although wait times of 90-120 days are common.