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Changes in VA hospital use 1980-1990

C M Ashton¹, T W Weiss, N J Petersen

¹Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, VA Medical Center, TX 77030.

|May 1, 1994

Summary

Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital use increased in the 1980s due to an aging veteran population. Younger veterans

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Area of Science:

Health Services Research
Gerontology
Public Health Policy

Background:

The 1980s saw significant shifts within and external to the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.
Understanding trends in VA hospital utilization is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze trends in VA hospital use between 1980 and 1990.
To determine the impact of an aging veteran population on VA hospital utilization.
To investigate changes in utilization patterns across different age groups.

Main Methods:

Secondary analysis of the national VA hospital discharge database (1980-1990).
Analysis of Veteran Population Files for demographic data.
Examination of age-specific utilization rates and multiple stay ratios.

Main Results:

Despite a 6% decrease in the veteran population, VA discharges rose by 7% from 1980 to 1990.
The primary driver of increased VA hospital use was the aging veteran population, as older veterans utilize hospital care more frequently.
Veterans younger than 45 showed consistent increases in use, while older veterans' use declined, suggesting a shift in care settings.

Conclusions:

Changes in the age composition of the veteran population accounted for some, but not all, of the increase in VA hospital use during the 1980s.
Increased use by younger veterans may indicate growing barriers to non-VA care access.
Declining use by older veterans suggests successful VA initiatives in shifting care to ambulatory and long-term settings.

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