TABLE 3.
| Type of Service | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Sizes and Veteran Characteristics | Physical Therapy | Cardiology | Optometry | Orthopedic | Dental |
| No. Veterans | 382,542 | 229,880 | 260,286 | 245,728 | 82,469 |
| No. new patient consults | 392,750 | 234,892 | 264,906 | 251,971 | 83,951 |
| Days‡ (SE) | Days (SE) | Days (SE) | Days (SE) | Days (SE) | |
| RCC§ | 33.50 (0.22)*** | 27.75 (0.42)*** | 39.91 (0.37)*** | 35.30 (0.38)*** | 35.03 (0.56)*** |
| RVA∥ | 32.98 (0.17)*** | 25.75 (0.27)*** | 40.05 (0.32)*** | 35.72 (0.25)*** | 34.35 (0.52)*** |
| UCC¶ | 33.90 (0.23)*** | 28.00 (0.44)*** | 38.82 (0.36)*** | 37.40 (0.35)*** | 33.77 (0.49)*** |
| UVA# | 35.59 (0.15)*** | 26.32 (0.26)*** | 39.81 (0.31)*** | 35.31 (0.23)*** | 35.48 (0.47)*** |
| RCC×FY18 | −1.93 (0.21)*** | −0.38 (0.40) | −5.66 (0.30)*** | −2.12 (0.36)*** | 0.52 (0.44) |
| RVA×FY18 | −3.88 (0.12)*** | −0.68 (0.15)*** | −7.57 (0.26)*** | −6.40 (0.16)*** | −1.37 (0.41)** |
| UCC×FY18 | 0.19 (0.22) | −0.42 (0.42) | −4.25 (0.29)*** | −4.35 (0.34)*** | 0.34 (0.36) |
| UVA×FY18 | −4.07 (0.09)*** | −2.13 (0.13)*** | −7.82 (0.19)*** | −7.40 (0.13)*** | −3.26 (0.30)*** |
| Race/ethnicity (reference=White, non-Hispanic) | |||||
| Black, non-Hispanic | 3.62 (0.12)*** | 1.96 (0.18)*** | 4.37 (0.17)*** | 4.98 (0.17)*** | 2.31 (0.33)*** |
| Hispanic | 3.70 (0.19)*** | 2.81 (0.26)*** | 1.41 (0.26)*** | −2.24 (0.27)*** | 2.04 (0.49)*** |
| Other | 1.85 (0.27)*** | 0.18 (0.41) | 1.59 (0.38)*** | −0.69 (0.40) | 3.03 (0.80)** |
| Unknown | 1.13 (0.22)*** | −0.52 (0.31) | 0.14 (0.32) | −0.89 (0.33)* | 1.73 (0.62)* |
| Race/ethnicity×FY18 (reference=White, non-Hispanic) | |||||
| Black, non-Hispanic×FY18 | −0.94 (0.15)*** | −1.78 (0.22)*** | −3.89 (0.30)*** | −1.87 (0.22)*** | −0.59 (0.41) |
| Hispanic×FY18 | −1.21 (0.24)*** | −2.89 (0.33)*** | 0.68 (0.42) | 1.41 (0.34)*** | −1.40 (0.62) |
| Other×FY18 | 0.39 (0.34) | 0.09 (0.51) | −1.56 (0.62) | 2.28 (0.51)*** | −2.44 (0.97) |
| Unknown×FY18 | −0.35 (0.29) | 0.84 (0.40) | 0.54 (0.50) | 1.50 (0.43)** | −2.12 (0.78)* |
| Male (reference=female) | −1.17 (0.09)*** | −0.39 (0.16) | −1.04 (0.20)*** | −0.32 (0.14) | −0.76 (0.27)* |
| Age (FY15) | −0.07 (0.00)*** | 0.02 (0.00)*** | 0.07 (0.00)*** | 0.00 (0.00) | −0.08 (0.01)*** |
| Nosos risk score | −0.54 (0.02)*** | −0.63 (0.02)*** | −0.37 (0.03)*** | −0.52 (0.02)*** | −0.86 (0.03)*** |
| Priority group†† (reference=1–2) | |||||
| Priority 3 | −0.84 (0.07)*** | −0.44 (0.11)*** | −0.84 (0.14)*** | −0.71 (0.11)*** | −5.26 (0.28)*** |
| Priority 4–6 | −0.79 (0.07)*** | −0.27 (0.09)* | −0.91 (0.12)*** | −1.37 (0.10)*** | −7.10 (0.23)*** |
| Marital status (reference=single) | |||||
| Divorced/separated | 0.00 (0.10) | 0.24 (0.14) | 0.12 (0.18) | 0.55 (0.14)*** | −0.26 (0.26) |
| Married | −0.13 (0.09) | 0.35 (0.14) | −0.30 (0.18) | 0.85 (0.13)*** | 0.66 (0.26) |
| Widowed | −0.70 (0.16)*** | −0.12 (0.21) | −0.47 (0.28) | 0.14 (0.24) | 0.05 (0.47) |
| Unknown | 0.13 (0.28) | −0.72 (0.44) | −0.09 (0.58) | 1.90 (0.43)*** | 1.55 (0.81) |
VHA Fiscal Year (FY) October 1 to September 30.
Days refers to the coefficient associated with the variable in column 1.
RCC represents rural Veterans using Community Care.
RVA represents rural Veterans using Veterans Health Affairs.
UCC represents urban Veterans using Community Care.
UVA represents urban Veterans using Veterans Health Affairs.
Priority Group 1: Veterans with VHA-rated service-connected disabilities 50% or more disabling; Veterans determined by VHA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions; Priority group 2: Veterans with VHA-rated service-connected disabilities 30% or 40% disabling; Priority group 3: Veterans who are Former Prisoners of War (POWs); Veterans awarded a Purple Heart medal; Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; Veterans with VHA-rated service-connected disabilities 10% or 20% disabling; Veterans awarded “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation”; Veterans awarded the Medal of Honor (MOH); Priority group 4: Veterans who receive aid and attendance or housebound benefits from VHA; Veterans who are considered “catastrophically disabled” by VHA; Priority group 5: nonservice-connected Veterans and noncompensable service-connected Veterans rated 0% disabled by VHA with annual income below VHA’s adjusted income limits; Veterans receiving VHA pension benefits; Veterans eligible for Medicaid programs; Priority group 6: compensable 0% service-connected Veterans; Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Project 112/SHAD participants; Veterans who served in Vietnam; Veterans of the Persian Gulf War; Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days (US Department of Veterans Affairs 2017). We grouped priority groups based on the following: groups 1–2 (more service-connected), group 3 (a mix of eligibility criteria), and groups 4–6 (not service-connected).
P<0.01.
P<0.001.
P<0.0001.