Health services management research : an official journal of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration
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Inpatient care from hospitals operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offered free of charge to many eligible veterans. Others must make nominal co-payments. As a result, in contrast to the private sector, money prices do not serve as an allocation mechanism for inpatient care. ⋯ The results suggest that willingness to wait depends on the expected benefits of waiting before treatment can be received. The impact of the monetary and non-monetary costs imposed by waiting is small. As VA waiting lists continue to grow, social workers discharge planners and other providers should investigate the tolerance for waiting and incorporate this information into plans for service provision.