The AAMC submitted a statement for the record on the importance of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) academic affiliations to veteran health care in advance of three congressional hearings.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a May 11 hearing titled, “Impacts of VA's Research Efforts on Veterans,” the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a May 11 hearing titled, “Examining Quality of Care in VA and the Private Sector,” and the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee held a May 12 hearing titled, “Innovative Care Delivery at VA: Partnering to Improve Infrastructure and Operational Efficiency.”
The AAMC statement emphasized, “The long-standing relationships between the VA and academic medicine through our shared and integrated missions of patient care, education, research, and community collaboration improve the health of Veterans and all Americans.” The association’s message encouraged the preservation of these relationships through the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review process [refer to Washington Highlights, March 18].
The statement also recommended expanding VA graduate medical education, timely and efficient reimbursement of academic affiliates, increasing funding for VA research, and passage of the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 (H.R. 5721) [refer to Washington Highlights, Nov. 5, 2021].