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Q & As from Charleston VA, MUSC hospitals proposal The following is a question-and-answer explanation of what has been proposed between MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The proposal stems from recommendations by a collaboration formed in July to explore and enhance sharing opportunities between the two facilities. What is the current relationship between the VA and MUSC? The VA and MUSC have a long history of sharing and collaboration, especially in the areas of clinical care, education and research. In July, former VA Under Secretary for Health, Jonathan Perlin, M.D., established the Collaborative Opportunities Planning Group (COPG). The goal of the COPG is to explore mutually beneficial sharing opportunities between the Charleston VA and MUSC that will improve the access, quality and cost of health care for veterans and the citizens of South Carolina. Would a new VA hospital be built in Charleston? One of the goals of the COPG is to review construction options for the VA including a new VA hospital. Any decision regarding a new VA hospital would be made by the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Would the Charleston VA and MUSC merge? No. The discussion has always focused on how the VA and MUSC can enhance their relationship by increasing collaboration and sharing to improve the delivery of health care for veterans and the citizens of South Carolina. Who would be in charge of any new arrangement, VA or MUSC ? VA and MUSC would each continue to oversee the care they deliver in their facilities, or any new facilities. Who would pay for any new facility that is built, VA or MUSC? VA and MUSC are working together to develop options that would be financially acceptable to both VA and MUSC. For VA, the final decision rests with the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In any new arrangement, who gets priority for care, veterans or civilians? Any plan that is developed will have to improve access for veterans and recognize veterans’ priority. Current VA eligibility policies would continue to be followed. Would the VA continue to have its own pharmacy? Yes. VA would continue to provide both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services to veterans. Would the VA lose its name or identity? The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center would continue to be an independent veterans’ facility. How would the VA’s Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC’s) be affected by this collaboration? There would be no change to the operation of any of the current CBOCs operated by the VA, including clinics in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, and Savannah, Ga. What would happen to VA employees in any collaboration? Both the Charleston VA and MUSC will continue to employ their own staff who would work in separate areas. Is the VA buying MUSC new equipment? One of the collaborative options being considered is for VA to buy $6.7 million dollars in radiology and radiation therapy equipment that would be housed in MUSC facilities. The lease agreement covering this equipment would provide a revenue stream to the VA to support patient care and/or lower the cost of specialty services purchased by the VA. The contracts for this venture currently are in negotiation. Veterans would have equal access to the equipment operated by MUSC. Has congress approved funding for a new VA hospital in Charleston? Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, sponsored H.R. 5815 which proposes $70 million for the planning of a replacement VA facility in Charleston. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, sponsored S. 3421 that did not authorize any funding for a replacement VA facility in Charleston. The next step is for the measures H.R. 5815 and S. 3421 to go to conference in which a committee representing members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate discuss and negotiate details contained in each measure. The bipartisan conference committee generally works out a merged or compromise plan. A date for conference deliberations has not been established. Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.