Home-Based Primary Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs - History, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps

Sep 29, 2026

Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) launched in 1970 is a well-resourced VA model shaping HBPC practice through team-based, comprehensive, longitudinal primary care delivered in Veterans’ homes. The program aims to optimize health while reducing hospital, emergency, and nursing home use. Favorable outcomes include lower utilization, high patient and caregiver satisfaction, and reduced health care costs. With population aging, more older adults with complex medical needs lack access to HBPC, requiring VA and non-VA systems to expand and improve it. This presentation reviews 55 years of lessons, innovations, challenges, and proposed next steps for research and practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Program history and rationale

Care model and outcomes

Gaps in access and future needs

Innovations, challenges, and next steps

FAQs

What is the goal of the VA Home-Based Primary Care program?

To promote optimum health while reducing the need for hospital, emergency room, and nursing home care.

What outcomes has VA HBPC produced over time?

It has shown favorable results such as reduced hospital, emergency, and nursing home utilization, high patient and caregiver satisfaction, and lower health care costs.

Why is expanding HBPC important in the context of population aging?

Population aging will increase the number of medically complex older people who could benefit from home-based care, yet many do not have access to an HBPC program.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by WPS_1786070896