Changes in the Delivery of Selected Mental Health Services at Veterans Administration Medical Centers

GAO identified changes in the delivery of selected mental health services at Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers resulting from the VA Resources Allocation Methodology System. GAO found that: (1) although the new methodology rewarded medical centers for most of their treatment program changes, it penalized centers for some changes; (2) VA officials stated that, although some changes increased veterans' access to care, other changes limited health services; (3) VA was analyzing how the methodology related to psychiatric programs; and (4) VA had not conducted local or national clinical evaluations to determine the effects of the changes on the quality of care delivered to veterans.