Does membership in Veterans' Service Organizations influence use of the Department of Veterans Affairs as the usual source of care?

Abstract

Veterans' service organizations (VSOs) provide outreach regarding veterans' benefits. Medical care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is one such benefit that has improved health and quality of life. This study evaluates the characteristics of veterans who report VSO membership and who use the VA as their usual source of care, and it determines whether VSO membership influences the choice of a VA or non-VA facility as the usual source of care. The findings reveal that VSO members, compared with nonmembers, are Caucasian, older, retired, of lower income, and more functionally impaired. Veterans who use the VA, compared with non-VA users, are African American, of lower income, unemployed, and more functionally impaired. VSO members are more likely to use the VA as the usual source of care than are VSO non-members, with the effects varying according to race/ethnicity. Policy recommendations include increasing the diversity of VSO membership, because VSOs play an important outreach and informational role for veterans.