COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS HEARING FINDS FLAWS IN VA HEALTHCARE COST MODELIN

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS HEARING FINDS FLAWS IN VA HEALTHCARE COST MODELING

Hearing determines VA healthcare forecasting led to funding gaps 

Washington, D.C. In a Committee hearing today on veterans’ healthcare cost forecasting, Chairman Buyer uncovered key weaknesses in the processes used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to predict healthcare demand and shape budgets.  Testifying before the Committee, VA officials said that largely because of flaws in its forecasting model, VA must conduct workarounds in the Fiscal Year 2005 veterans’ healthcare budget, using $400 million in carryover funds intended for FY2006. 

Hearing testimony was provided by: Panel 1 

Honorable Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., MSHA, FACP, Under Sec. for Health, VA

Ms. Rita A. Reed, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget

Mr. Jimmy A. Norris, VHA Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Arthur J. Klein, Director of Policy and Forecasting Service

Honorable John Kokulis, Deputy Ass. Sec. of Defense for Health Affairs for Health Budgets and Financial Policy, Department of Defense

Kathi S. Patterson, F.S.A, M.A.A.A., Senior Consulting Actuary at Milliman, Inc.

Panel 2:  

Mr. Steve Robertson, Legislative Director of The American Legion

Mr. Douglas K. Vollmer, Associate Executive Director, Government Relations of PVA

Mr. Tim Feeser, FSA, Principal at Reden & Anders, Ltd