Vaughn Barker is available for on-record commentary on VA Foreign Medical Program throughput, VetsReady™ certification for international providers, federal healthcare revenue-cycle policy, and Lean Six Sigma applied to healthcare operations. This form routes to the media desk with a subject-matter background packet attached.
Independence disclosure. When commenting on the VA Foreign Medical Program, Vaughn Barker represents Barker and Barker Consulting LLC. His views are not endorsed by, funded by, or approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the VA Foreign Medical Program.
Who should use this form
- Journalists covering healthcare revenue cycle, denied claims, VA policy, veteran health access, federal contracting, or SDVOSB market participation.
- Industry analysts at healthcare, public sector, or professional-services research firms working on published research where SDVOSB, veteran-provider, or FMP context is material.
- Trade publication editors commissioning contributed columns, expert commentary, or roundtable participation.
- Podcast producers and video-interview shows in the healthcare, federal, or veteran advocacy space.
What Vaughn Barker speaks to on the record
Primary topics
- VA Foreign Medical Program (FMP) throughput. The GAO-25-107149 findings, the 221-day / 182-day / 37.4% picture, what it means for international providers on direct billing and for veterans paying upfront. Country-level throughput variance where public data supports the commentary.
- VetsReady™ certification. The problem VetsReady™ solves, why VA does not certify international providers under FMP, why a private-sector workflow certification is possible where a VA credential is not, the two provider models (upfront-pay and direct-bill), why VetsReady™ is complementary to Joint Commission International rather than a substitute.
- Federal healthcare revenue-cycle policy. CMS-0057-F prior authorization interoperability rule (2026/2027 deadlines), HRSA-funded provider revenue-cycle discipline (FQHC, Ryan White, 340B), state Medicaid data quality (DQI/DQA and T-MSIS).
- SDVOSB participation in federal healthcare procurement. Set-aside program participation, teaming with primes, past-performance discipline for veteran-owned firms.
- Lean Six Sigma in healthcare operations. Master Black Belt discipline applied to revenue cycle, patient access, prior authorization, and denial defense workflows.
Secondary topics
- International market entry for U.S. professional-services exporters. USCS Gold Key, ITA industry teams, SBA international-trade programs.
- Wisconsin small-business and veteran-owned business certification pathways.
- U.S.-Philippines business context, veteran expatriate populations, tax residency workflow.
Topics Vaughn Barker declines
- Specific hospital identifications. Vaughn Barker will not name specific international hospitals as engagement targets or in operational commentary. The firm's international work is described in generic country-level and role-level terms.
- Specific engagement ROI or dollar figures. Barker and Barker Consulting does not publish specific revenue-recovery percentages, dollar amounts, or client-specific outcome metrics.
- VA internal policy speculation. Vaughn Barker comments on public GAO findings and public VA policy; the firm does not speculate on VA internal decision-making or unpublished policy direction.
- Adversarial commentary on named payers or federal agencies. Barker and Barker Consulting works with federal agencies and payers; commentary is analytical, not adversarial.
Response commitment
- On deadline. For inquiries with a stated deadline inside 24 hours where the outlet is a recognized publication and the topic is within the primary-topics list, Barker and Barker Consulting aims for a same-business-day response.
- Standard commitment. All other media inquiries receive a substantive written reply inside two business days.
What to include in your submission
- Outlet. Publication, network, or platform.
- Format. Written article, broadcast segment, podcast, panel, contributed column, or backgrounder.
- Deadline. Filing deadline or publication date.
- Angle. One paragraph on what the piece is about and why Barker and Barker Consulting is a relevant voice.
- What you need. On-record quote, backgrounder, data pointer, statement, interview, or full contribution.
- Distribution and audience. Rough audience size, primary audience segment, geographic reach.
Background packet available on request
The following materials are available to credentialed media by request through this form. Barker and Barker Consulting responds with the packet attached to the first substantive reply.
- Firm backgrounder (one page, PDF), history, capabilities, past performance, certifications.
- VetsReady™ background (two-page briefing), what the certification is, what it certifies, why VA cannot fill the gap.
- VA FMP throughput briefing (one page, GAO-cited), the numbers, the failure modes, the workflow implication.
- Speaker biography for Vaughn Barker (short and long forms).
- Executive portrait in high resolution.
- Firm logo in vector formats for print and web use.
Vaughn Barker biographical short form
Vaughn Barker is the principal of Barker and Barker Consulting, a Wisconsin-based Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business advisory firm. A Six Sigma Master Black Belt, he leads the firm's healthcare revenue-integrity, federal-proposal, and international-market-entry practices. He is the developer of VetsReady™, a proprietary workflow certification for international providers serving U.S. veterans under the VA Foreign Medical Program. He co-presents with the VA Foreign Medical Program at expatriate seminars in Manila and has served on HRSA-sponsored panels on operational efficiency in federally qualified health centers.
Related content
The form
Required fields:
- Full name
- Title
- Outlet
- Outlet email
- Deadline (date and time)
- Format
- Angle (paragraph)
- What you need
Optional fields:
- Direct phone
- Distribution and audience
- Preferred method of first contact (email, phone, video call)
Submit button: Send media inquiry
Below the submit button, in small type: By submitting this form you agree to receive a substantive written reply from Barker and Barker Consulting inside two business days at the email address you provided, or sooner if you indicate a deadline. Your information will not be sold, shared, or added to a marketing list without your consent. See our privacy policy.
*Barker and Barker Consulting LLC. Vaughn Barker, principal. Wisconsin-based SDVOSB.*