The goal of the Stanford Veterans Policy Lab is to generate evidence-based policy solutions that address the unique needs and challenges facing U.S. Veterans. Through rigorous research, analysis, and collaboration with stakeholders in the VA and beyond, SVPL seeks to identify and promote policies that improve Veteran health.

Our Work

Questions We Are Working On

We focus on some of the most pressing and difficult issues that affect Veterans, the VA, and policy makers that seek to achieve the best possible outcomes for Veterans.

Is it better to get emergency care at VA, or a private hospital?

  • VA enrollees taken by ambulance for emergency care at VA hospitals had much better survival rates than those treated at non-VA hospitals. In the news: NBER Digest [full paper]

What happens when VA allows more Veterans to seek care outside VA?

  • More access to VA community care increased the number of outpatient community care visits, but did not change the number of VA visits. [full paper]
  • VA community care has been increasing as a share of all VA health care, and more Veterans are using the urgent care benefit that started in 2019. In the news: The Hill [full paper]
  • More access to VA community care in emergency department visits led to fewer visits being paid Medicare and other outside insurers for the same care. [full paper]
    • But navigating the billing process after an emergency visit is still a struggle for many Veterans. [full paper]
  • In progress – Does VA’s nurse triage line prevent unnecessary emergency department visits?
  • In progress – What are the clinician and nurse staffing needs of VA hospitals?
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Our Team

Our team spans diverse research fields, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation.

Todd Wagner

Economist
Dr. Wagner is the director of the Stanford Veterans Policy Lab. He formed the lab to bring together leading researchers with the goal of evaluating policies, programs, and interventions that can meaningfully address Veteran issues. He is also the director of VA’s Health Economics Resource Center.
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Anita Vashi

Emergency Medicine Physician
Dr. Vashi is a researcher focused on improving our understanding of acute care utilization, delivery and outcomes. Dr. Vashi is also a clinician that works in both VA and non-VA emergency departments.
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David Chan

Internal Medicine Physician and Economist
Dr. Chan is researcher interested in studying how information is used in health care, how this affects productivity, and implications for design. Dr. Chan is also a clinician that works in VA hospitals.
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Liam Rose
Kritee Gujral
Angela So
Tracy Urech