October 3, 2014The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) announced a new graduate medical education (GME) enhancement initiative as mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA, P.L. 113-146) [see Washington Highlights, Aug. 1]. Formal applications are due Oct. 17, 2014, using an online submission process.
The Sept. 17 Request for Proposal (RFP) for academic year 2015-2016 is intended to be the first of several over the next five years to add a total of 1,500 GME positions to the VA system. VA medical facilities may request positions in any combination of Primary Care, New or Expanding Sites or New Affiliations, Rural Health, Mental Health, or Critical Needs. Critical needs subspecialties must specify the veterans access issues such positions will address.
According to the RFP, Collaboration with local affiliated sponsors of residency training programs and accreditation or provisional accreditation of all involved programs is required. The RFP also emphasizes rural expansions, including through VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Out Patient Clinics (OPCs), and Independent Outpatient Clinics (IOCs).
Nearly all of the VAs residency programs are sponsored by an affiliate medical school or teaching hospital. In 2012, the VA successfully completed a previous VA GME enhancement initiative, adding approximately 1,500 positions. That initiative restored the VA to approximately 10 percent of GME nationwide.
The VA earlier announced a national recruitment initiative by VA Secretary Robert McDonald and a proposed increase in pay ranges for VA physicians providing care to veterans.
Contact:
Matthew Shick, J.D.
Senior Legislative Analyst, Government Relations
Telephone: 202- 828-0525
E-mail: mshick@aamc.org
