United States Office of the Inspector General reported in July 2009 that medical facilities were in various stages of implementing VA’s initiative on comprehensive primary care for women veterans, however officials at some facilities were unclear about the steps needed to implement VA’s new initiative.

VA has not set a deadline by which all VAMCs and CBOCs are required to implement VA’s new comprehensive primary care initiative for women veterans, which would allow women veterans to obtain both primary care and basic gender-specific services from one provider at one site. Officials at the VA medical facilities we visited since the comprehensive primary care for women veterans initiative was introduced reported that they were at various stages of implementing the new initiative.

Officials at some medical facilities GAO visited were unclear about the steps needed to implement VA’s new policy on comprehensive primary care for women veterans.

VA officials at medical facilities GAO visited identified a number of key challenges in providing health care services to women veterans. These challenges include:

   1. VA reports that physical space constraints that affect the provision of care resulting in the current problems complying with patient privacy requirements.

2. VA reports difficulties hiring providers that have specific experience and training in women’s health, as well as hiring mental health providers with expertise in treating veterans with PTSD and who have experienced MST.

   3. Officials at some VA medical facilities also reported implementation issues in establishing the WVPM (Women Veteran Program Manager)as a full-time position.