Promoting Partnerships To Improve Veterans’ Health

VHA Travel Expansion – per attached memo signed last month by Dr. Stone, fully vaccinated VA employees may now be authorized to travel to restart mandatory program inspections, conduct face-to-face meetings, and support staff speaking engagements and continuing education.  What this means for you:  NPPO has begun scheduling some on-site reviews and will return to a full schedule on October 2021.  Expect more details from NPPO in mid-August following their next NPOB meeting.

OAA Memo - Academic Affiliate Payment for Clinical Rotations – OAA Policy specifically prohibits the giving of gifts (monetary donations) in exchange for clinical rotations at the VAMC.  There can be no quid pro quo.  Explicitly linking payments to the willingness of the VA to host trainee rotations is prohibited.  Contributing funds to the NPC on a “per head” basis for trainee rotations is prohibited.  However, NPCs may accept donations for support of educational activities that are not specifically tied to the number of trainee rotations.  NPPO and OAA are working on a webinar to provide additional information later this summer.