Research "carried out jointly by RAND Health's Center for Military Policy Research and the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the National Defense Research Institute"--Preface.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-99).

Introduction -- Data Sources and Methods -- The Impact of Selected Patient and VISN Characteristics on Care Under VERA -- The Costs of Academic Affiliations Under VERA -- VERA and Weather-Related Costs -- Analysis Plan for Evaluating Potential VERA Modifications -- Conclusions -- Appendix A: Key Formulas and Data in the FY 2001 VERA -- Appendix B: Guide for RAND VERA Site Visits - Networks -- Appendix C: Guide for RAND VERA Site Visits - Facilities -- Appendix D: VERA Eligibility Categories and Priority Groups.

Since April 1997, the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) System has served as the basis for allocating the congressionally appropriated medical care budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to its regional networks. Concerned that the VERA system may not allocate resources in a manner consistent with its mission, Congress requested a study of the system and how allocations are affected by a number of factors, including infrastructure age, extreme weather conditions, and participation in medical education. This report describes the results of RAND's initial analysis. Because of the project's short time frame, only qualitative analysis was performed. Among the findings were that health care delivery costs may be affected by the age, physical condition, and historical significance of a VISN's capital infrastructure, factors for which VERA does not currently adjust. An additional finding was that VERA's current case-mix adjustment may not adequately account for differences in the average health status of veterans across networks. The influence on costs and access to care of factors such as weather extremes was less clear. In spite of its possible shortcomings, VERA appeared to be designed to meet its objectives more closely than did previous VA budget allocation systems. A plan was presented for further quantitative analysis of a number of critical issues that emerged from the current study.

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