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HRD-84-31 1 (1984-02-13)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabejz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 





BY THE US. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE



Report To The Honorable Harry N. Walters

Administrator Of Veterans Affairs






Opportunities To Increase VA's Medical Care

Cost Recoveries

The Veterans Administration (VA) generally
provides free medical care to eligible vet-
erans. However, when a veteran requires
treatment because of injuries suffered on
the job or because of another person's neg-
ligent actions, VA can recover the cost of the
medical care provided from the responsible
third party. VA can also recover the cost of
care provided to nonveterans in an emer-
gency and to patients later found to be
ineligible for VA care.

However, VA did not charge enough to re-
cover the full costs of care provided to most
such patients. VA prepares bills on the basis
of two national average per diem rates--one
for medical/surgical patients and one for
psychiatric patients Had the changes in
methods of computing billing rates GAO is
recommending in this report been in effect
during fiscal year 1982, VA could have
increased its billngs by over $10 million.

Delays in revising VA billing rates have sig-
nificantly reduced potential recoveries over
the years. In a companion report (GAO/HRD-
84-32), GAO recommends steps the Office
of Management and Budget should take to
improve future recoveries
                     D~ S 1,1


                                                                   123380


     a      .                                                    GAO/HRD-84-31
   Cou~J                                                    FEBRUARY 13, 1984

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