These are just the beginning; the full implementation of the act goes out to 2034.
According to Dr. MacDonald, the agency is working hard to engage both veterans and the workforce to keep tabs on how the implementation is going.
“It’s a fundamental change in the day-to-day business that they’ve been doing, sometimes for years, and so extremely important across this change is that we have set up processes and now a joint operations center and a number of forums to hear directly from our front line and make sure that their issues are our issues in central office, in DC here, and that they feel heard and that they know that when they have needs, those needs are actioned,” she said.
The VA, under the Mission Act, is also working hard to engage health care providers in the community, including making VA training to community partners, including training on opioid use, suicide prevent and military culture.
However, all these change are for naught if the veterans are not on board. But so far, Dr. MacDonald said the early feedback is very positive.
She cited a VFW survey that asked a question about the Mission Act changes so far and whether they would recommend the VA to other veterans. Ninety percent of the respondents answered they would.
“That’s our marker that we are getting somewhere with these changes and the way we do business,” she said. “That is what we want to see continue to increase.”