The VA, in partnership with 13 healthcare systems including Kaiser Permanente and Intermountain, is committed to improving the Veteran healthcare experience through data sharing. This initiative aims to streamline information exchange, enhance care quality, and reduce financial burdens for Veterans. Dr. Shereef Elnahal highlights the significance of immediate access to medical history and empowering non-VA providers with valuable information. The collaborative effort targets accurate Veteran identification, resource connection, and coordinated care, with proof of concept expected in early 2024.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made an important announcement regarding its commitment to enhance the Veteran experience by collaborating with 13 healthcare systems, including notable names such as Kaiser Permanente and Intermountain. The primary goal of this collaboration is to improve the healthcare provided to Veterans, irrespective of where they choose to receive medical care.
Through this collaborative effort, the VA will join forces with these 13 healthcare systems to facilitate the seamless exchange of information related to the care Veterans receive or require. This initiative not only aims to improve the quality of healthcare for Veterans but also seeks to help them save money by ensuring they can efficiently access both VA and community-based healthcare resources.
The healthcare systems partnering with the VA in this endeavor include Emory Healthcare, Inova, Jefferson Health, Sanford Health, University of California Davis Health, Intermountain Health, Mass General Brigham, Rush Health, Tufts Medicine, Marshfield Clinic, Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Atrium Health.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA Under Secretary for Health, expressed the significance of this pledge by stating, “This pledge will improve Veteran healthcare by giving us seamless, immediate access to a patient’s medical history, which will help us make timely and accurate treatment decisions.” Furthermore, this collaboration empowers the VA to share valuable information with its partner health systems, which can then be offered to Veterans under their care. This includes information about new benefits available under the PACT Act, no-cost emergency suicide care, and more.
The objectives outlined in this data sharing pledge hold substantial potential benefits for both Veteran patients and their healthcare providers, aiming to alleviate financial burdens. For instance, sharing critical information can help inform non-VA physicians about the need to provide no-cost care to a Veteran in acute suicidal crisis, as per a new VA policy. Additionally, data sharing can educate non-VA doctors about how the PACT Act can benefit Veteran patients.
As part of this pledge, the VA and its healthcare partners will collaborate to develop and offer capabilities that support three key objectives:
1. Accurately identifying Veterans when they seek care from community providers.
2. Connecting Veterans with VA and community resources that promote their health and well-being.
3. Responsibly and reliably coordinating care for shared patients, whether or not they are enrolled in VA health benefits. This includes exchanging information about requested and provided care.
The VA encourages any health system or provider that aligns with the objectives of this data sharing pledge to participate. The organizations that have signed this pledge initiated their collaborative efforts in October, with the aim of demonstrating proof of concept in early 2024.
