Mr. Alex Spector, VHA Director Vic Rosenbaum, Acting VHA Associate Director

AlaskaAlaskaHealthcare System Healthcare System & Regional Office& Regional Office

Serving America’s Serving America’s VeteransVeterans … … Our most treasured Our most treasured resourceresource

Mr. Alex Spector, VHA DirectorMr. Alex Spector, VHA DirectorVic Rosenbaum, Acting VHA Associate DirectorVic Rosenbaum, Acting VHA Associate DirectorDr. Cynthia Joe, Chief of StaffDr. Cynthia Joe, Chief of StaffLinda Boyle, R.N., Associate Director Linda Boyle, R.N., Associate Director for Nursing and Patient Servicesfor Nursing and Patient Services

Alaska VA Healthcare SystemAlaska VA Healthcare System

March 1, 2012March 1, 2012



TOPICSTOPICS

Demographics Basic EligibilityAlaska VA JourneyAlaska VA – Scope of Clinical ServicesSites of Care Joint Venture Relationship with 673d Medical GrpAlaska Federal Healthcare PartnershipCare Closer to Home



FY11 Veteran PopulationFY11 Veteran Population 77,35177,351 (Source www.va.gov/vetdata)(Source www.va.gov/vetdata) Projected 2015 Veteran PopulationProjected 2015 Veteran Population 77,01277,012 (Source (Source www.va.gov/vetdata))

FY11FY11 Overall EnrolleesOverall Enrollees 30,022 30,022 Total Unique PatientsTotal Unique Patients 16,59516,595 VA Outpatient Clinic Visits VA Outpatient Clinic Visits 170,281170,281

VHA Demographics

38.8% Veteran Population enrolled – Market Penetration

http://www.va.gov/vetdata

Alaska Veteran Population Alaska Veteran Population DistributionDistribution

By Area of the StateBy Area of the StateFY11 Veteran FY11 Veteran

PopulationPopulation

% of % of Vet Vet PopPop

FY11 FY11 Enrollees for Enrollees for

Alaska VA Alaska VA HealthcareHealthcare

% of Vet Pop % of Vet Pop in Area in Area EnrolledEnrolled

Anchorage 31,190 40.3% 13,922 45%

Fairbanks 13,034 17% 4,534 35%

Mat-Su 10,532 13.6% 4,433 42%

Southeast 7,987 10.3% 1,158 14.5%

Kenai 6,580 8.5% 2,421 37%

West/SW Alaska 2,846 3.7% 526 18.5%

Northern Alaska 2,576 3.3% 375 14.5%

Kodiak 1,304 1.7% 329 25%

Valdez/Cordova 1,302 1.7% 383 29%



Enrollees



Users



Basic Eligibility forBasic Eligibility for VA Medical Care VA Medical Care

• 8 Priority Groups - 8 Priority Groups - Veterans upon VA’s receipt of application Veterans upon VA’s receipt of application are assigned to one of the groups with Group 1 being the are assigned to one of the groups with Group 1 being the

highest priority and Group 8 the lowest. highest priority and Group 8 the lowest.

• Dependent on level of income and service-connected disability, Dependent on level of income and service-connected disability, some Veterans are required to pay a co-payment for some Veterans are required to pay a co-payment for medications, outpatient care, and inpatient care. VA bills the medications, outpatient care, and inpatient care. VA bills the Veteran’s third party insurance for care that is not related to Veteran’s third party insurance for care that is not related to service-connected disabilities.service-connected disabilities.

• For detailed information, For detailed information, Health Care Benefits Overview Health Care Benefits Overview dated September 2010, is in the briefing folder.dated September 2010, is in the briefing folder.

********MOST IMPORTANTMOST IMPORTANT: Veterans should apply to find out if they are : Veterans should apply to find out if they are eligible. ****eligible. ****

Building a Healthcare System

91

01

99

93/96

92

Fee progra

m 90%

of budget

Outpatient

Clinic Activate

d

Kenai CBOC

OpenedFairban

ksCBOC

Activated

AVAHS: The JourneyAVAHS: The Journey

06

97

DRRTP activation: ARH – then Benson & C St

Joint Venture

, 3rd MDG

Activated

08

Juneau Outrea

ch Clinic

Mat-SuCBOC

New Muldo

on Clinic

2010

Care Closer to HomeVA/DoD JVRural OutreachHomelessness

2011 &

Beyond

Kenai CBOC New

Facility

07

Fairbanks

CBOC Move



Alaska VA Healthcare Alaska VA Healthcare System Scope of Clinical System Scope of Clinical

ServicesServices

Primary Care to include Home Based Primary CarePrimary Care to include Home Based Primary Care Lab/Radiology/Pharmacy/DentalLab/Radiology/Pharmacy/Dental Social and Behavioral Health ServiceSocial and Behavioral Health Service Homeless Veterans ProgramsHomeless Veterans Programs Limited Specialty Care Limited Specialty Care Ambulatory SurgeryAmbulatory Surgery Coordinated Care Home Telehealth Coordinated Care Home Telehealth Rehabilitation ServicesRehabilitation Services

Prosthetics (Durable Medical Equipment/Home Oxygen)Prosthetics (Durable Medical Equipment/Home Oxygen)



Sites of VA CareSites of VA Care

Anchorage Anchorage Muldoon ClinicMuldoon Clinic

Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment ProgramTreatment Program

VA/DOD Joint Venture HospitalJoint Base Elmendorf-Richardson



VA Sites of Care, VA Sites of Care, cont.cont.Mat-Su VA Community Based Outpatient ClinicMat-Su VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic

Juneau VA Outreach ClinicJuneau VA Outreach Clinic

Fairbanks VA Community Based Fairbanks VA Community Based Outpatient ClinicOutpatient Clinic

Homer VA Outreach Clinic



Designated VA Hospital for Alaska Designated VA Hospital for Alaska (60 total inpatient beds)(60 total inpatient beds)

Preferred Emergency Room for Preferred Emergency Room for Anchorage BowlAnchorage Bowl

Over 70 VA staff embedded into Over 70 VA staff embedded into facility facility

Joint Incentive Fund ProjectsJoint Incentive Fund Projects Increased use of specialty services Increased use of specialty services

such as Orthopedics, ENT, such as Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, and GU when Ophthalmology, and GU when capacity existscapacity exists

Best Hospital in the Air Force 2008 – Best Hospital in the Air Force 2008 – 22ndnd Year in a Row! Year in a Row!

2009 Installation Excellence Award2009 Installation Excellence Award 2009 Best Hospital in DoD2009 Best Hospital in DoD

VA/DOD Joint Venture VA/DOD Joint Venture TeamworkTeamwork

673 MDG Elmendorf AF Base673 MDG Elmendorf AF Base



AFHCP - InitiativesAFHCP - Initiatives

• Home Telehealth MonitoringHome Telehealth Monitoring• Federal Education Sharing Group – 4 offerings a yearFederal Education Sharing Group – 4 offerings a year• Medical Oncology Medical Oncology • Pain ManagementPain Management• Emergency PlanningEmergency Planning• GME – AK Psychiatry Residency ProgramGME – AK Psychiatry Residency Program

Care Closer to Care Closer to HomeHome

• Inception:Inception:• Congressional InterestCongressional Interest• Veterans’ ConcernsVeterans’ Concerns• Alaska VA leadership advocacyAlaska VA leadership advocacy

• Dep Under Secretary for Operations & Mgt – Dep Under Secretary for Operations & Mgt – May 2010May 2010

• Oncology Care Closer to HomeOncology Care Closer to Home• AK prepared – Purchased Care Prgm “Best Practice”AK prepared – Purchased Care Prgm “Best Practice”

• Sec VA Visit – May 2011Sec VA Visit – May 2011• AK Congressional invitations “work”AK Congressional invitations “work”• Sec VA requested expansion of programSec VA requested expansion of program

Care Closer to Home Care Closer to Home InitiativeInitiative

• In May 2010, AVAHS began keeping Oncology In May 2010, AVAHS began keeping Oncology care local care local

– 221 oncology patients stay in AK thru Jan 2012221 oncology patients stay in AK thru Jan 2012• Expanded to other specialty care in July 2011Expanded to other specialty care in July 2011

• # of Veterans offered care out of state:# of Veterans offered care out of state:– 2009: 5912009: 591– 2010: 5452010: 545– 2011: 336 (43% reduction)2011: 336 (43% reduction)– 2012: 219 (October 2011 - January 2012)2012: 219 (October 2011 - January 2012)

Care Closer to Home InitiativeCare Closer to Home InitiativeContinue to Refer:Continue to Refer:

• SurgerySurgery– Post-surgical casesPost-surgical cases– Highly-Complex surgeriesHighly-Complex surgeries

• Continuity of CareContinuity of Care• Care Not available in AKCare Not available in AK• SpecialSpecial

– Spinal Cord InjurySpinal Cord Injury– TransplantsTransplants

• Support VA Education MissionSupport VA Education Mission– Cardio-Thoracic SurgeryCardio-Thoracic Surgery

• Conversation occurs with VeteranConversation occurs with Veteran– Do they wish to remain local or be referred to tertiary Do they wish to remain local or be referred to tertiary

facility in “lower-48”facility in “lower-48”

Service Jan FY12 TotalCardiology 7 18Cardiothoracic Surgery 2 8General Surgery 1 9GI 1 Gynecology 6 27Hyperbaric 1 Neurology 10Neurosurgery 33 95Orthopedics 26 152Pain Management 2Plastic Surgery 1 4Pulmonology 1 2Urology 6Vascular surgery 13 51Grand Total 92 386

Care Referred to CommunityCare Referred to Community

Care Closer to Care Closer to HomeHome

Points of Contact for VA Care:Points of Contact for VA Care:

Integrated Care ServiceIntegrated Care Service: DeLynn James: DeLynn [email protected] - 907-257-6922 - 907-257-6922

EligibilityEligibility: Ric Epperson: Ric [email protected] - 907-257-4943 - 907-257-4943

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



QUESTIONS?

www.va.gov or

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http://www.va.gov/

http://www.alaska.va.gov/

Mr. Alex Spector, VHA Director Vic Rosenbaum, Acting VHA Associate Director

Documents

Transcript of Mr. Alex Spector, VHA Director Vic Rosenbaum, Acting VHA Associate Director