Key Issues > Continuity of Health Care from DOD to VA
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Continuity of Health Care from DOD to VA

Many servicemembers that separate from military service will seek medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—especially those who have sustained serious wounds, illnesses, or injuries while on active duty.

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While the Department of Defense (DOD) and VA recognize the importance of providing a seamless transition from DOD’s health care system to VA’s health care system, numerous barriers prevent effective and efficient transitions, especially for servicemembers who have experienced serious wounds, illnesses, or injuries. GAO has reported that:

  • VA and DOD have faced barriers and made limited progress toward developing joint electronic health record capabilities that could improve veterans’ health care.
  • DOD’s and VA’s efforts are limited in terms of their ability to ensure that all servicemembers have the necessary help to manage their medications during transitions of care.
  • Logistical, and other challenges—such as a lack of awareness—may hinder veterans from receiving VA mental health services.
  • DOD and VA have not integrated and aligned the numerous care coordination and case management programs that assist seriously wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers and veterans during their transition from DOD’s to VA’s health care system.
  • The VA/DOD Joint Executive Council assumed responsibility for addressing many of the key challenges that impact transitioning servicemembers, but it remains unclear how the Council, which has traditionally focused on long-term joint strategic planning issues, will provide the consistent and effective policymaking, oversight, and accountability needed to resolve major problems.
Looking for our recommendations? Click on any report to find each associated recommendation and its current implementation status.
Recovering Servicemembers and Veterans: Sustained Leadership Attention and Systematic Oversight Needed to Resolve Persistent Problems Affecting Care and Benefits
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-5

GAO-13-5: Published: Nov 16, 2012. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2012.
DOD and VA Health Care: Medication Needs during Transitions May Not Be Managed for All Servicemembers
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-26

GAO-13-26: Published: Nov 2, 2012. Publicly Released: Nov 14, 2012.
VA Mental Health: Number of Veterans Receiving Care, Barriers Faced, and Efforts to Increase Access
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-12

GAO-12-12: Published: Oct 14, 2011. Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2011.
DOD and VA Health Care: Action Needed to Strengthen Integration across Care Coordination and Case Management Programs
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-129T

GAO-12-129T: Published: Oct 6, 2011. Publicly Released: Oct 6, 2011.
Electronic Health Records: DOD and VA Should Remove Barriers and Improve Efforts to Meet Their Common System Needs
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-11-265

GAO-11-265: Published: Feb 2, 2011. Publicly Released: Feb 2, 2011.

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Food and Drug Administration: Comprehensive Strategic Planning Needed to Enhance Coordination between Medical Product Centers
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-16-500

GAO-16-500: Published: May 16, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 2016.
Drug Shortages: Better Management of the Quota Process for Controlled Substances Needed; Coordination between DEA and FDA Should Be Improved
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-15-202

GAO-15-202: Published: Feb 2, 2015. Publicly Released: Mar 4, 2015.
Transitioning Veterans: Improved Oversight Needed to Enhance Implementation of Transition Assistance Program
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-14-144

GAO-14-144: Published: Mar 5, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 5, 2014.
Veterans' Employment and Training: Better Targeting, Coordinating, and Reporting Needed to Enhance Program Effectiveness
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-29

GAO-13-29: Published: Dec 13, 2012. Publicly Released: Jan 10, 2013.
VA and DOD Health Care: Department-Level Actions Needed to Assess Collaboration Performance, Address Barriers, and Identify Opportunities
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-992

GAO-12-992: Published: Sep 28, 2012. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2012.
Veterans' Reemployment Rights: Department of Labor and Office of Special Counsel Need to Take Additional Steps to Ensure Demonstration Project Data Integrity
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-860R

GAO-12-860R: Published: Sep 10, 2012. Publicly Released: Sep 10, 2012.
Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations: Federal Coordination Efforts Could Be Further Strengthened
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-647

GAO-12-647: Published: Jun 20, 2012. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2012.
Arlington National Cemetery: Additional Actions Needed to Continue Improvements in Contract Management
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-99

GAO-12-99: Published: Dec 15, 2011. Publicly Released: Dec 15, 2011.
Fraud Detection Systems: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Needs to Expand Efforts to Support Program Integrity Initiatives
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-292T

GAO-12-292T: Published: Dec 7, 2011. Publicly Released: Dec 7, 2011.
Indian Health Service: Continued Efforts Needed to Help Strengthen Response to Sexual Assaults and Domestic Violence
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-29

GAO-12-29: Published: Oct 26, 2011. Publicly Released: Oct 26, 2011.
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