Chief Strategy Office
About the Chief Strategy Office
The VHA Chief Strategy Office (CSO) serves as a key strategic advisor to the Under Secretary for Health, Deputy Under Secretary, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Program Offices, Veteran Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), and VA Medical Centers (VAMCs).
CSO coordinates various aspects of VHA’s national policy development, analysis and planning initiatives. The office represents VHA’s priorities and policies through intra-organizational activities that improve the health of Veterans, plan for Veterans’ services, promote policy related to the care of Veterans and project Veteran enrollment and utilization of care for health systems planning and budget development. Employees in this office work collaboratively to further the VHA vision and achieve VA goals while striving to be innovative, always acting with integrity, and being responsive to our stakeholders’ needs.
Air Commission Recommendations
Long-Range Plan Forecast
Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis (OSPA)
The Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis (OSPA) offers an array of support services. The office provides Veterans Health Administration (VHA) leaders with insightful data and information to support planning, policy, budget, performance and healthcare system design decisions. OSPA is responsible for leading, developing, and coordinating strategic planning efforts for VHA to effect implementation of VA and VHA strategic goals, performance measures and targets; conducting complex quantitative and qualitative analyses to support VHA strategic planning, as well as program reviews and management studies that integrate strategic planning into on-going organizational improvements.
In addition, OPSA provides the following support or services:
Development of strategic planning guidance for the field and program offices, which clarifies VHA strategic objectives, strategies and performance measures and targets for the system.
Developing corporate reports, proceedings, analyses, and disseminates information through the use of state-of-the art technology including survey design, customized publications, web site management, and advanced computer applications.
Administering Annual Survey of Enrollees Survey of Enrollees – gathering and reporting Veterans’ enrollment choices and utilization patterns.
Providing ongoing analytical support to VISN and VHA leadership.
Conducting program reviews and management studies that integrate strategic planning into on-going organizational improvements.
Coordination with VA-DoD for strategic planning.
VA Survey of Veteran Enrollees’ Health and Use of Health Care (Survey of Enrollees)
The Survey of Enrollees provides information about who VHA’s enrolled Veterans are, what influences their health care choices, and how they perceive their health status. It also tells VHA how enrolled Veterans currently use our system and how they plan to use it in the future.
Policy Analysis and Forecasting (PAF) Office
The Policy Analysis and Forecasting (PAF) offers an array of support services. The office provides Veterans Health Administration (VHA) leaders with insightful data and information to support planning, policy, and budget decisions. PAF reviews program policies and provides consultative expertise to stakeholders’ on Veteran policy, regulatory and legislative issues. In addition, PAF provides the following support or services:
Develops enrollment, cost, and utilization projections via the VA Enrollee Health Care Projection Model.
Conducts analyses to ensure consistency with the policy direction of the VA Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health.
Coordinates VHA’s health reform efforts and creates the monthly Veteran enrollment, utilization and cost file used for reporting throughout VHA.
Procures Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data and distributes for analysis within VHA to help improve quality and efficiency of VA health services and coordination of care between VHA and CMS systems.
Applies Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to “visualize choice” and optimize healthcare access and resources. Note: GIS data are the basis for many PAF products and analyses, including reports, location-allocation analysis, GIS portals, and cartographic products.
PAF is comprised of three offices located in VA Central Office in Washington, Braintree and Gainesville.
VA Enrollee Healthcare Projection Model
The Model projects Veteran enrollment, health care utilization, and expenditures for 20 years into the future. The Model projects the number of Veterans expected to be enrolled in a geographic area, their total health care needs, and the portion of that care they are expected to receive in VA versus other health care providers. The expenditure projections that support the VA health care budget request are based on the anticipated costs associated with the projected utilization.
VHA Chief Strategy Office
Veterans’ Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420