Standing with our Veterans: Improving access to Veterans Affairs Healthcare for their families

Abstract: Veterans' families, who share in the sacrifices of military service, currently have limited access to Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare benefits. A 2023 content analysis at the Boston VA Healthcare System revealed that 81.6% of family members accompanying veterans to outpatient surgery visits expressed interest in receiving care from VA physicians, even if it required using civilian insurance. Although based on a small, regional sample, these findings suggest that expanding VA healthcare access to veterans' families could improve care delivery, maintain patient volumes, and generate needed revenue. However, such an expansion would require careful management of increased patient loads and collaboration among all stakeholders.

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