Task Force on Veterans’ Health

North Carolina is home to the 8th largest number of military Veterans in the U.S. with approximately 619,000 Veterans living in our state, around 8% of our population. As individuals transition from active duty to Veteran status, and as they age, they can face challenges in navigating health care benefits, as well as in receiving care that is well-coordinated between the civilian health sector and the Veterans Affairs health system. In addition, many Veterans have ongoing behavioral health care and substance use treatment needs and may need assistance with other drivers of health such as housing and employment.

The passage of the PACT Act in 2022 brought an increase in the number of Veterans who are eligible for care. This increase, along with previously existing challenges and changes being discussed at the federal level related to VA funding, brings an urgency to identify actionable strategies for improving access to care, care coordination, and developing the right workforce to meet Veterans’ health care needs across their lifespans.

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine is convening a task force beginning in Summer 2025 aimed at improving the provision and navigation of care, developing the health workforce, and addressing the behavioral health care needs of Veterans.