Kitsap Review

The VA Puget Sound Health Care System, subsidiary 663GB in Silverdale, Washington, scheduled 3,244 pending appointments during the period ending March 1, according to data collected from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Of the total number of appointments, 2,973 had a wait time of 30 days or less (91.7%) and 271 appointments (8.4%) were scheduled more than 30 days out.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in January 2019 reported wait times for new appointments at VA health care facilities were similar to or better than wait times at private-sector providers between 2014 and 2017.

However, the Government Accountability Office released a report in July 2019 cautinging the VA's data-tracking system only captures part of the appointment process and fails to account for the time that it takes the VA to enroll veterans in its health benefits program.

The VA explains when veterans apply for benefits, they are assigned to one of eight priority groups, with those who need immediate care due to service-related disabilities placed in higher priority groups. Veterans who do not have service-connected disabilities and earn a higher income are placed in the lower priority groups.

Facility Code	Location	Total Appointments Scheduled	Appointments Scheduled 30 Days or Less	Appointments Scheduled More than 30 Days
663	Seattle	35,501	31,530	3,971
663A4	Tacoma	27,394	24,095	3,299
663GC	Mount Vernon	4,053	3,673	380
663GB	Silverdale	3,244	2,973	271
663GB	Silverdale	3,244	2,973	271
663GD	Chehalis	1,213	1,136	77
663GE	North Olympic Peninsula	878	831	47
663GA	Bellevue	16	16	0

Source: U.S. Veteran's Administration