Review of VA's Mental Health Strategic Plan

Audit of Veterans Health Administration Mental Health Initiative Funding 04/06/09. The Office of Inspector General conducted an audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Health Initiative (MHI) Funding. The objective of this audit was to determine if the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had an adequate process in place to ensure funds allocated for MHI were tracked and used accordingly. Results of our audit showed that VHA staff adequately tracked funds allocated for the MHI in FY 2008. The Office of Mental Health Service (OMHS) distributed funds through the Office of Finance for specific programs to medical facilities using transfer disbursement authorities. In addition, OMHS provided award memorandums explaining the funded program, necessary resources, and the funding amounts. Medical facility fiscal staff at each location established their own multiple fund control points and used spreadsheets to track salary and purchase order costs for the MHI. The Office of Finance staff received reports on the amounts spent and compared with the amounts allocated. Medical facility mental health care staff reported on personnel actions associated with filling the MHI positions and if the positions were filled internally, when the old positions were backfilled. OMHS staff monitored these personnel reports to track the status of the MHI positions. In FY 2009, the Office of Finance established standardized account classification codes for the MHI funds that could further enhance transparency and accountability over how MHI funding is spent in the future. The Under Secretary for Health agreed with the findings and noted that metrics for monitoring the implementation f the requirements listed in the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook are currently being developed. VAOIG

Healthcare Inspection Implementation of VHA’s Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook 04/06/09. As required by the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, fiscal year 2009 (FY09), the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA’s) progress in implementing the recommendations of the Mental Health Strategic Plan. Also the Committee was concerned that VHA policy on the identification and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has not been applied uniformly and directed the OIG to include a review of the compliance to these policies in the report. This inspection reports on the system-wide implementation status of VHA Handbook 1160.01, Uniform Mental Health Services in VA Medical Centers and Clinics. We believe it reasonably estimates the present extent of handbook implementation at the medical center level at this time. A detailed table presents our findings, including findings on PTSD. Because facilities have until the end of FY09 to fully meet the handbook requirements, we made no recommendations at this time. VAOIG