Skip to main content

VA Health Care: Verifying Veterans' Reported Income Could Generate Millions in Copayment Revenues

HRD-92-159 Published: Sep 15, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 1992.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) policies and procedures for making copayment decisions, focusing on: (1) whether VA accurately classified veterans who should copay for VA health care; (2) the potential lost copayments from misclassified veterans; and (3) VA use of tax records in determining veterans' copayment status.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress should extend VA authority to use tax records to verify veterans' self-reported incomes for determining copayment liability.
Closed – Implemented
On October 29, 1992, Congress passed P.L. 102-568, which extended VA's authority through September 30, 1997.
As part of this reauthorization, Congress should require VA to notify veterans, as soon as possible, that VA intends to verify veteran-reported income information using federal tax records.
Closed – Implemented
This was made a requirement by P.L. 102-568.
As part of this reauthorization, Congress should require VA to use federal tax records to identify veterans who should make copayments for VA health care.
Closed – Implemented
This was made a requirement by P.L. 102-568.
As part of this reauthorization, Congress should require VA to take appropriate steps to charge these veterans for all copayments owed for health care that VA provides.
Closed – Not Implemented
Congress gave VA discretionary authority to use tax records to identify veterans who should make copayments.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to ensure that sufficient policies, procedures, and resources are available to implement an income-verification system as soon as possible after VA tax records access authority is extended.
Closed – Implemented
On May 28, 1993, VA issued VHA Directive 10-93-063. This directive provides initial policy and an overview of the income verification match program. The directive will be incorporated into a permanent issue.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Comparative analysisEligibility determinationsGovernment collectionsHealth care costsHealth insurance cost controlInformation systemsReporting requirementsTax information confidentialityTax returnsVeterans benefits