American College of Physicians (ACP) recognizes that a large part of its membership is employed in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system or gives healthcare services outside of VHA
September 25, 2014
The American College of Physicians (ACP) letter on: Veterans Access to Care Through Choice Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014.
In a 3-page letter addressed to The Honorable Robert A. McDonald, Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, ACP's chair of its Medical Practice and Quality Committee provides:
- four "General Recommendations," which broadly address VHA policies that influence care delivery to all veterans receiving clinical care both within and outside the system - including policies related to the new legislation
- five "Act-Specific Recommendations," which are focused on the policies being developed and linked to the expanded private-option provision of the Veterans Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014.
The recommendations are offered for consideration to help inform the requisite regulatory structure linked to recently passed legislation, which, among other provisions, significantly expands access to services provided by non-VHA physicians and other healthcare professionals for veterans who qualify based on length of wait-list time or distance from VHA facility.
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The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 141,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.
Contact:
David Kinsman, (202) 261-4554
dkinsman@acponline.org
Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572
jblaser@acponline.org