Summary

GAO identified changes in the delivery of selected mental health services at Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers resulting from the VA Resources Allocation Methodology System. GAO found that: (1) although the new methodology rewarded medical centers for most of their treatment program changes, it penalized centers for some changes; (2) VA officials stated that, although some changes increased veterans' access to care, other changes limited health services; (3) VA was analyzing how the methodology related to psychiatric programs; and (4) VA had not conducted local or national clinical evaluations to determine the effects of the changes on the quality of care delivered to veterans.