The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) overstated its success rates in providing timely services to veterans needing mental health care, according to a new inspector general’s report. VA policy requires first-time patients referred to or seeking mental health services to receive an initial evaluation within 24 hours and a more comprehensive diagnostic and treatment planning evaluation within 14 days. In 2011, the VA reported in its Performance and Accountability Report that 95% of new patients wanting mental health services received full evaluations within the 14-day period. But according to the inspector general’s report, just 49% were seen in that time frame and most faced an average 50-day wait. Also, the VA reported that 95% began treatment within 14 days of their desired start date. But the inspector general found only 64% were able to do so and the average wait was closer to 40 days.
