Strategies for Reducing Hospitalization Costs and Improving Health Care Access for Veterans: The Nurse Practitioner–Case Manager Collaboration

Crafting a balance between health care access and controlling expenditure for our well-deserving American veterans has been a challenge for every presidential administration. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) have been deployed in both military and veteran facilities and have contributed significantly to continuity of care for veterans who made transition from battlefield to civilian life. This article discusses current health situation of veterans, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) challenges, and efforts to meet their needs while controlling costs, the impact of APRNs,and case managers on quality care and cost containment, and proposes a pathway of population managment and collaboration between these professionals to coordinate inpatient and outpatient services in the VHA to improve health care access and reduce overall health care costs.