Hearing prep 1/30

Question 1

What is VHA doing to partner with VBA?

Answer 1

-Goal to ensure that anytime a Veteran or family member interacts with VA - whether VBA or VHA they receive the support and guidance they need
-That includes while still wearing the uniform and preparing for transition, after retirement, and through the end of life
-Partner during the Veteran transition period
-Joint guidance, communication, and outreach through local, regional, and national engagements
-Listening to feedback - Example the SAMS and NCA pilot
-For Survivors specifically - Singular condensed resource guide such as OSA and including VHA, VBA, NCA and external resources for survivors of Veterans died by suicide - in partnership with our VEO office
-Plan for distribution widely later this year

Question 2

Who is being held accountable?

Question 3

What is your position on expanding CHAMPVA eligibility for dependents to age 26?

Answer 3

Support

Question 4

How does VHA support Survivors after passing?

Answer 4

-Supportive calls from care teams, chaplains
-Bereavement services for those eligible whether through VHA facilities or VetCenters
-Need for consistency
-SAMS
-NCA pilot
-20k contacts to VHA after Veterans passing

Question 5

Is VHA running out of money? Is there a hiring freeze?

Answer 5

-Last year hired employees - 61k (confirm), workforce over 400k and placed intentional focus on retention
-Goal to make sure we’re making the best use of our dedicated workforce and address targeted areas of need like MH
-It’s important in these situations to have close communication with our field teams and the Sec and UnderSec are committed to that

Question 6

What happened at the Jesse Brown VA?

Question 7

What Mental health services are provided at transition?

Answer 7

-Close coordination with M2Vet and VA healthcare liaisons
-Solid Start program - calls newly separated Veterans 3x in first year of transition to provide information on how to access MH and other services
-COMPACT Act

Question 8

Why are we hearing about delays in payments in CHAMPVA?

Answer 8

-Antiquated system but improved
-92% within 30 days
-Paper claims
-Payment hold Treasury Mandate

Question 9

How many beneficiaries use CHAMPVA?

Answer 9

703k total enrolled
488k in FY23
13% growth in enrollment from FY22 to 23
206 employees

Question 10

What is the current status of the Caregivers and Family Members FACA?

Answer 10

-May 2023 moved to VHA
-20 members - **Example of Listening
-recommendations due in July 2024

Question 11

When is VHA updating Caregivers eligibility criteria?

Question 12

How long can VA offer services to Survivors after a Veteran passes?

Question 13

What can Congress do to help?

Answer 13

Appreciate assistance
CHAMPVA
Bereavement support

Question 14

How bad is CHAMPVA’s backlog?

Answer 14

-92% of provider healthcare claims within 30 days
-Eligibility applications at 8k with 45 day average processing

Question 15

What restrictions exist for bereavement services?

Answer 15

Currently only for Suicide Victims, death of active duty, those in Vet Center treatment, and those receiving treatment for specific conditions associated with service at VAMCS

Question 16

What training do MH providers receive?

Answer 16

Leading educator of MH trainees in the country

Quality control of clinical care, patient satisfaction of care through office

VCL take over 160 hours of classroom training

Question 17

What metrics are used to assess and improve VCL?

Answer 17

Quality control program
Evaluation of calls
Training

Question 18

How much expended in CHAMPVA?

Answer 18

$1.88B in FY23

Question 19

Demographics of CHAMPVA enrollees?

Answer 19

703k total
488k filed claim last year
512k Spouses
12k caregivers
176k children under 23
100k growth in unique users in last 6 years

Question 20

What bereavement care can VetCenters provide to survivors?

Answer 20

Bereavement services to;
-Passing of active duty
-Active clients
-Suicide deaths (FY23)

Question 21

How does VHA coordinate military transition?

Answer 21

M2Vet
VA Health Coordinators
Ensure resources are included in transition training
Solid start program

Question 22

What role will psychedelics research have with survivors?

Answer 22

Announced earlier this month that, based on input by Veterans, VA, and outside researchers VA is taking the step to seek research proposals to look at impacts of psychedelics on MH and PTSD

Goal to thoughtfully evaluate their impacts in a safe manner

The research is focused specifically on Veterans and we will certainly keep the committee updated on progress

Question 23

How does CHAMPVA conduct outreach?

Answer 23

-Integration with materials for enrollees, Veterans, VBA
-Newsletters and articles for surviving spouses
-Presentations to VSOs at state and county level
-Presentations in partnership with DOD

Question 24

What can be done to improve CHAMPVA?

Answer 24

-Modernize technology
-Further outreach
-Care coordination
-Customer service

Question 25

Propublica

Answer 25

-31k MH staff members
-22% growth in past 3 years
-4200 new MH hires in first quarter of FY24
-Goal to increase MH professionals by 5k over next 5 years. Leverage loan repayment and scholarship incentives
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