title: The VA health care system: an unrecognized national safety net.
abstract: The dominance of local health care markets in conjunction with variable public funding results in a national patchwork of "safety nets" and beneficiaries in the United States rather than a uniform system. This DataWatch describes how the recently reorganized Department of Veterans Affairs serves as a coordinated, national safety-net provider and characterizes the veterans who are not supported by the market-based system.
authors.affiliation: Office of Performance and Quality, Departent of Veterans Affairs (VA), Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kizer
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009017:Morbidity; D012946:Social Welfare; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims