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![handle is hein.gao/gaobacxnz0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCURENT IISUBE
02225 - [A152437] (Restricted)
[Treatment of Ineligible Titerans in Veterans Administration
Hospitals]. May 10, 1977. 3 pp.
Report to Wallace R. Busbee, Director, Veterans 14ministrration:
Internal Audit Service; by George D. Peck, Assistant Director,
Human Resoriees and Development Div.
Issue Area: Health Prograss (1200).
Contact: Human Resorces and Developmeat Div.
Budget Function: Veterans Benefits and Services: Hospital and
medical Care for Veterans (703).
Organization Conizerned: Veterans dinistration: VI Hospital,
Hines, IL.
Authority: Federal Collection Act of 1966.
Numerous indebtedness clais referrals have been
received from the Hines, Illinois, Veterans Amainistration (VA)
hospital for medical treatment ti persons who were subsequently
found not eligible for VA medical benef.ts.
Fin3ings/Conclusions: Thirty cases were referred to GAO for
collection from the Hines VA Hospital for hospital stays from
November 1972 to June 1976. The amount of the claims totaled
about $89,000. In 14 of these cases, the same patient had been
admitted to the hospital or the outpatient clinic more than
once, and in one case, the same patient had been treated eight
times. Of the 16 persons who had only a single incidence of
hospital admission before being found ineligible, the shortest
length of stay at Hines was 14 daeys. Two of the persons were
treated in the hospital for over 50 days. It would seem that the
hospital's admission unit or othat responsible service should be
able to determine a person's eligibility in considerably loss
than two weeks time. The hospital could then quickly discharge
or refuse admittance to iniligible persons who were not in
emergency or life-threatening situations. Recommendations: The
admitting procedureb :t the Hines VA Hospital should be
evaluated, and changes san-1d be made to preclude the
i-easission of persons previonely letermined to be ineligible
':or hospital care. The evaluation should also develop ways in
which the period of time needed to determine eligibility can be
reduced. (SC)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobacxnz0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)