The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) July 29 released a proposed rule on a new Center for Innovation for Care and Payment.
The VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act, P.L. 115-182) authorizes the VA to create pilot programs focused on innovative approaches to test payment and service delivery models designed to decrease costs while increasing quality of care.
The new Center for Innovation for Care and Payment will select and test models in a similar way as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Pilot programs under the VA Center will last no longer than five years, and the VA has proposed multiple waiver options for these new programs that will enable them to adjust the programs to fit the needs of patients and respond to changes.
The VA also notes that the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment will operate independently of VA administrations. In the rule, the VA proposes that the services captured by these models could be offered by non-VA providers in addition to VA providers, meaning that providers at academic medical centers could potentially be part of these models.
The AAMC will be following the development of this new center closely.