Partnership Aims at Improving VA’s Health Care Supply Chain

According to a recent press release, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced that it has partnered with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) as an effort to enhance VA’s supply chain management modernization efforts. 

“The adoption of a single health care logistics system by VA and DOD highlights the commitment of both organizations to improve military and veteran health care by increasing the access and quality of care they receive,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “This is a huge step forward in our efforts to transform VA into a modern, high-performing organization by simplifying operations and leveraging DOD’s supply chain system to support our veterans. 

According to the agency, this partnership gives VA networks across the country access to DLA’s broader supply catalog. Further, the agreement provides VA access to DLA’s worldwide procurement system to acquire:

• medical and surgical items; 
• cleaning supplies and equipment; 
• construction materials and equipment; and, 
• other items needed to support Veterans. 

This strategic partnership agreement combines resources from both the VA and DOD to create a centralized ordering system for VA. This will reduce risk, waste, fraud, and abuse in purchasing medical equipment and supplies. 

“On behalf of DOD, we are proud to be a value-add to VA on behalf of America’s Veterans,” said Lt Gen Darrell K Williams. “Leveraging economies of scale, like the ones outlined in this agreement, help us reduce costs for the military services and other government partners like VA.”—Julie Gould