Comparing the Costs of the Veterans' Health Care System With Private-Sector Costs
Abstract
CBO regularly examines issues related to veterans' health care as well as other benefits that are provided by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Most recently, in December 2014, CBO released a report that compared the costs of health care provided directly at VHA facilities with the costs of private-sector care. My submitted statement today reprises that report, Comparing the Costs of the Veterans' Health Care System with Private-Sector Costs. Although the structure of VHA and some published studies suggest that VHA care has been cheaper than care provided by the private sector, limited evidence and substantial uncertainty made it difficult for CBO to reach firm conclusions about those relative costs or about whether it would be cheaper to expand veterans' access to health care in the future through VHA facilities or the private sector. Uncertainty about relative costs in the future is compounded by uncertainty about how VHA would structure contracts with private-sector providers. CBO also produces budgetary baselines and cost estimates for legislative proposals that would modify veterans' benefits. Among other measures, over the past eight months CBO has estimated the budgetary effects of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230, enacted as Public Law 113-146), including earlier versions of that legislation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (H.R. 5404, enacted as P.L. 113-175), which contained several amendments to P.L. 113-146.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 28, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1134533
Entities
People
- Matthew S Goldberg
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office