Veterans Affairs Canada Veterans Independence Program Reimbursements Process Audit - October 2011

Since 1981, Veterans Affairs Canada has administered a community-based, national program to eligible Veterans, their families, and other primary care-givers. These services include home care, home adaptations, ambulatory health care, and intermediate nursing home care. Now known as the Veterans Independence Program, it offers self-managed care in co-operation with provinces and regional health authorities. The program allows eligible Veterans, their families, and other primary care-givers to focus on maintaining their health, independence, and their quality of life. Every effort is being made to integrate the Veterans Independence Program administration with provincial and local resources to ensure a cost-efficient choice of service is available and to avoid duplication of service delivery.

Veterans Affairs Canada is responsible for setting up and amending the contribution arrangements while an external Contractor, Medavie Blue Cross, is responsible for processing the claims.

In the Spring of 2011, Senior Management requested an audit of the Veterans Independence Program reimbursement process to identify opportunities to further improve the process. This audit builds off the results of a 2010 audit of Veterans Independence Program and is focused on a single objective to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the reimbursement process. The scope covered the period from November 2010 to April 2011.