Authorities and Mechanisms for Purchased Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs,

Author

Health; RAND

Year

2015

Publisher

RAND Corporation

Language

English

Pages

Link

Last Update

31-Mar-2026

Keywords

Health Sciences

Description

One of VA’s core functions involves providing health care services to eligible Veterans. Although VA has traditionally carried out this role primarily by operating a national network of hospitals and other facilities, the agency also administers a purchased care function, through which it pays for health care services from outside providers. VA purchased care evolved primarily to address situations in which VA’s direct-care resources were unable to offer needed services. Although purchased care has accounted for only a small fraction of VA’s health care budget over the past decade, that fraction is growing. In the wake of the recent crisis...