Help Shape the Future of Veteran Healthcare
Modernizing veteran healthcare requires sustained collaboration and a commitment to following the evidence wherever it leads.
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Modernization of Veterans Healthcare Project
CONTACT USMODERNIZING VETERANS HEALTHCARE SO ALL WHO SERVED CAN THRIVE
Veterans deserve a healthcare system built around their lives, their needs, and the realities of healthcare today.
The Modernization of Veterans Healthcare project is IAVA’s long-term initiative to improve how healthcare is designed, funded, and delivered for veterans across America. The initiative is chaired by IAVA board member Dr. David Shulkin, the ninth Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former head of the Veterans Health Administration.
MVH brings together veterans’ experiences, independent research, and expertise from across healthcare, policy, research, and advocacy to identify practical reforms that improve veteran health outcomes. Through research, collaboration, and sustained advocacy, we are working to build a healthcare system that is more responsive, coordinated, transparent, and prepared for the future.
Veteran Experience. Independent Research. Practical Reform.
Veteran healthcare is changing rapidly. Advances in medicine, technology, telehealth, preventive care, and treatment have created new opportunities to improve veterans’ health and well-being. At the same time, veterans continue to face complex challenges involving access to care, continuity between health systems, chronic pain, mental health, traumatic brain injury, toxic exposures, and suicide risk.
MVH was created to turn research-backed evidence and experience into action. The result is a clear set of recommendations for Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs, healthcare systems, and other leaders responsible for serving veterans.
How MVH Works
We gather direct input from veterans, families, VA employees, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through public submissions, RFIs, surveys, listening sessions, and needs assessments.
We conduct independent reviews of the evidence and literature to understand the factors that shape veterans’ health and to assess existing programs and policies.
We bring together veterans, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and other subject-matter experts through steering groups and multi-stakeholder convenings.
We translate research and lived experience into concise, practical policy briefs and recommendations for Congress, VA, and healthcare leaders.
We equip IAVA’s Cavalry, McIlwain Leadership Program alumni, members, and partners with the information and tools they need to carry these recommendations into communities and policy conversations.
We publicly document MVH activities, research products, recommendations, partnerships, and progress so veterans and stakeholders can see how the work is moving forward.
Our Areas of Focus
MVH examines some of the most urgent and interconnected issues affecting veterans’ health. The list of topics begins here – and will expand based on findings and submissions of big ideas.
Advancing more effective and coordinated approaches to preventing suicidal thoughts, attempts, and deaths among veterans, including wrap around services, earlier intervention, continuity of care, and stronger support to the clinical and social conditions associated with suicide risk.
Addressing the various ways that veterans access their benefits including education about the process, improved equity in access, and meaningfully addressing the unaccredited claims consultant industry.
Establishing the VA as a center of excellence related to the screening for and treatment of toxic exposure related conditions.
Exploring alternative therapies that address physical and mental health ailments with the goal of making the VA the first opioid-free health care system.
Adopting advancements in preventative care and screening for conditions most prevalent in the veteran community and harnessing technological, clinical, and social innovations so that veterans can live long, healthy lives in their own homes for as long as they desire.
Integrating newly approved and emerging harm-reduction smoking cessation practices to address the leading lifestyle-enabled detriment to veterans overall health.
Identifying new and evolving healthcare challenges facing post-9/11 veterans and ensuring that policy and practice keep pace with changes in medicine, technology, military service, and the veteran population.
Follow the Work
MVH is committed to transparency and public accountability. Sign up for updates HERE.
RESEARCH & POLICY
MVH convenings bring together the nation’s experts on veteran health across multiple industries including research, healthcare, and policy advocacy. . Each convening focuses on a specific topic and helps translate research and lived experience into recommendations for Congress, VA, healthcare systems, and community partners.
The next planned convening will focus on lethal-means safety in partnership with the Fund for a Safer Future. Additional details will be announced as planning continues.
MEDIA RESOURCES
IAVA Launches the MVH Initiative
MVH in the News
LET US KNOW YOUR INTEREST
IAVA’s Modernization of Veterans Healthcare project needs collaborators, funders, and community participation to be successful. Choose YOUR level of involvement here:
