To
receive and share the most advanced medical techniques; to secure
the use of specialized medical resources which otherwise might not
be feasibly available to the VA and to provide services to the community
through specialized medical resources which are not being utilized
to their maximum effectiveness within the VA. (These medical resources
are "specialized" resources or underutilized resources
in the sense that they are unique in the medical community or can
have maximum utilization only through mutual use.)
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To
provide for the exchange of or mutual use of specialized medical
resources when such an agreement will obviate the need for a similar
resource to be provided in a VA facility, or for the mutual use,
or exchange of use, of specialized medical resources in a VA facility
which have been justified on the basis of veterans' care, but which
are not utilized to their maximum effective capacity. Such agreements
must be made with health care facilities including hospitals, medical
schools, clinics, research centers, and blood and organ banks. VA
may also enter into sharing agreements with State Veterans Homes
for the purpose of sharing health care resources which include inpatient
and outpatient care, rehabilitation services, and other health care
support or administrative services.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: (For sharing of medical resources)
Health care facilities including medical schools, hospitals, clinics,
research centers and blood and organ banks. ("Hospitals" include
any Federal, State, local, or other public or private hospital.)
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Patients of VA medical facilities
or patients of health care facilities including hospitals, medical
schools, clinics, research centers and blood and organ banks.
Credentials/Documentation:
Written authorization from the VA (or other party to the agreement
or contract, as provided) by the terms of the agreement or contract.
Pre-application
Coordination: Negotiated between VA and the
applicant. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Competitive sharing agreements
greater than $1.5 million and non-competitive contracts greater
than $500,000 must be approved by the Director, Sharing and Purchasing
Office (175), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC,
prior to contract execution. Proposed contracts less than these
thresholds may be negotiated and awarded without prior VA Central
Office reviewed approval.
Award
Procedure: None.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Sharing contracts may include the exercise of two 1- year, pre-priced
options beyond the first year of the contract. No other renewals
are permitted.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Annually as required by Title 38 U.S.C. 8153(e).
Audits:
As required by contract terms.
Records:
Maintain records in accordance with the contract or agreements
which will facilitate an effective audit.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 36-0160-0-1-703.
Obligations:
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 01 $185,500,000; FY 02 est $200,000,000;
and FY 03 est $200,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
