Streamlining Systems and Data for Veteran Care
Ibility's Impact on PACT Act Implementation
The Story
The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act represents one of the most significant legislative initiatives in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This landmark law expands benefits and healthcare access for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. To ensure the seamless implementation of its far-reaching provisions, the VA established the Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO), a centralized, temporary entity focused on delivering legislative objectives, tracking progress, and ensuring cross-agency collaboration.
Ibility, leveraging its healthcare technology expertise, joined this critical mission to provide strategic support across two key Lines of Effort (LOE): Systems Development and Modernization (SDM) and Data Modeling and Forecasting (DMF). Together, these LOEs aimed to improve the veteran and beneficiary experience through systems modernization and data-driven insights.
The Problem
The implementation of the PACT Act presented a daunting challenge for the VA. One of the major issues was fragmented systems and processes. Existing IT systems were insufficiently integrated, creating bottlenecks that hindered benefits delivery and access to care for veterans.
Another challenge was the lack of data accessibility and collaboration. Difficulties in accessing Department of Defense (DoD) data slowed claims processing, which negatively impacted veterans' experiences and the overall efficiency of the process. Additionally, there was a lack of governance for long-term sustainability. With the EPMO designed as a temporary entity, it became urgent to establish governance mechanisms that would ensure continued progress even after the EPMO transitioned.
Stakeholder alignment also posed a significant challenge. The complexities involved in managing diverse stakeholders across multiple departments introduced additional layers of risk and inefficiency.
These challenges threatened the timely delivery of the PACT Act’s objectives, risking delays in benefits and care for millions of veterans.
The Solution
Ibility's comprehensive approach addressed the challenges of implementing the PACT Act head-on. In the area of System Development and Modernization (SDM), we enhanced IT requirement tracking by ensuring that IT modernization efforts aligned with the distinct sections of the PACT Act. This included identifying new system needs and integrating them into SDM tracking mechanisms. We also collaborated with SDM leadership to revise charters, ensuring the continued implementation of PACT Act initiatives as part of routine VA operations after the EPMO transition. Additionally, we provided strategic oversight to resolve system implementation issues efficiently and tracked critical requirements for the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER), ensuring its seamless integration into VA platforms like VA.gov.
In Data Modeling and Forecasting (DMF), we managed the PACT Act Performance Dashboard Integrated Project Team (IPT) to create a comprehensive tool for tracking progress and outcomes by 2025. We also streamlined processes for VA/DoD data sharing agreements, addressing critical pain points in claims processing and improving operational efficiency between the two departments.
Our joint SDM and DMF efforts included capturing lessons learned to inform future enterprise-wide initiatives and assisting in the creation of detailed roadmaps and milestones to guide PACT Act implementation. We focused on improving the timeliness and accuracy of benefits delivery through better data utilization and stakeholder coordination, enhancing the overall efficiency of the PACT Act's objectives.
The Impact
Ibility’s efforts have contributed to the VA’s successful operationalization of the PACT Act, positioning the initiative as a model for large-scale legislative implementation. Key impacts include:
Improved Veteran Experience
Systems modernization and data access enhancements streamlined benefits delivery and care access for millions of veterans.
Scalability of Success
The VA is exploring the transition of the EPMO from a temporary office to a permanent entity to manage future enterprise-wide initiatives, building on the lessons learned from the PACT Act.
Unified "One VA" Approach
By breaking down silos, Ibility’s work fostered a more cohesive and efficient organization, enabling faster decision-making and improved stakeholder engagement.
Enterprise-Wide Governance
Recommendations for SDM governance established a foundation for long-term systems modernization efforts and improved interdepartmental collaboration.
The Conclusion
Ibility’s contributions to the PACT Act’s implementation highlight the transformative power of strategic systems and data integration. By addressing immediate challenges and laying the groundwork for sustainable governance, Ibility not only supported the VA in meeting its legislative objectives but also set the stage for broader organizational change.
The success of this partnership underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in serving those who have served. Through its work with the VA, Ibility continues to demonstrate its ability to drive impactful, scalable solutions for complex challenges.