Actions Needed To Insure That Female Veterans Have Equal Access to VA Benefits
HRD-82-98
Published: Sep 24, 1982. Publicly Released: Sep 24, 1982.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Veterans Administration (VA) efforts to provide health care benefits to female veterans. GAO specifically sought to determine whether VA was: (1) equipped to provide women with medical care; (2) planning for the anticipated increase in women veterans demanding care; (3) informing women veterans of available benefits; and (4) addressing their psychological problems related to service in Vietnam.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Medical Director, improve female veterans' access to outpatient gynecological care and other care not available at VA facilities by: (1) negotiating sharing agreements with the Department of Defense or other federal hospitals; (2) contracting with private gynecologists; or (3) developing in-house capability. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Medical Director, revise privacy standards and ensure that future construction or renovation projects correct privacy limitations that limit women's access to VA facilities and treatment. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Medical Director, instruct VA medical facilities to identify all treatment programs that cannot accept female patients and develop alternative ways to provide the care, such as sharing agreements or increased use of the inpatient fee-basis program. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Medical Director, develop projections on the numbers of service-connected and nonservice-connected female veterans expected to seek care from VA and use such data in planning future construction and renovation projects. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Benefits Director, evaluate female veterans' awareness of benefits. |
VA did not agree with the recommendation; and it said that all veterans are equally aware of benefits.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Benefits Director, establish procedures to insure that female veterans will not be notified of major changes in benefits that affect them. |
VA did not agree with the recommendation; and it said that female veterans are notified of their benefits when they are discharged.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should, through the Chief Benefits Director, expand outreach efforts to include veterans' organizations with predominantly female memberships. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Health care servicesHealth resources utilizationHospital planningMental health care servicesVeterans benefitsVeterans hospitalsWomen's rightsVeteransRight of privacyHealth care centers