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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxll0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DCCIJME'T 1iESUME
06269 - (15P6621]
Better Services at Reduced Costs thrcugb ;an Improved Personal
Care Prograw Recommended for Veterans. HID-78-107; E-123044.
June 6, 1978. 28 pp. + 3 appendices (7 pp.).
Report to the Congress: by Elmer E. Staats, Comptrclier General.
Issue Area: Health Froqrams (1200); health Pcograms: Health
Providers (1202).
Contact: Human flesouLces Div.
Budqet Function: Kealth: Health Care Serv-ces y51).
Orqanization Concerned: Veterans Adairlistraticn.
Congressional Relevance: House Comwittee on Veterans' Affairs;
Senate Comos'-'-.ee -n Veterans' AffairE; Congiess.
As pa,.t of outpatient carc fcr veterans, tbE Veterans
Administration (VA) operates a commurity care frogram in which
veterans live in residences other than their own under VA
supervision. Within this program, the Ferscnal care residence
(PCR) proqram functons as an alternative to lcng-term
institutionalization of psychiatric, medical, and surgical
patients. In the PCR (or fcster home), a spcnr-r provides or
arranges for personal care functions, and the vetera yj f or
his livinq arranqements. In tiscal year 1977, about 20,CC0
veterans lived in such hoes. Findirgs/Ccrclusiont: The concept
of the personal care poqram is practicatle. The medical ant
psychiatric conditions of voteran- iB~rcie after placement in
PCRs, and costs of such care are reduced. 1houiands of veterans
in VA facilities could be cared for in PCRs but remain ir the
other facilities bEcause of such factcrs as insufficient funds,
lack of suitable community facilities, patient or family
resistance to VA's out-placement efforts, and lack ct a formal
personal care program. VA has made scie progress toward use of
the proqram, but more needs to be done to expand its use and
assure adequate services and facilities for veterans in PCRs.
Ineffective program management at VA's central offict and at the
hospitals have resulted in some programs which do not assure
that suitable veterans are placed in hcoes and that adequate
services and facilities are proided. Reccmmrndaticns: The
hiministrator of Veterans Affair should direct his acticns
.oward: improvinq overall personal care Frcqras management,
expanding the use of this alterndtive, and imprcving prcgxam
operations to assure quality services and facilities for
veterans in PCRs. The Congress should provide specitic
leqislative authority for the PCR PtCgrgd and a~thcrize VA to
participate in paying the cost ot indigent patients' per.zonal
care when other fund sources are not availatle. (Author/filh)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxll0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)