Final answer:
The plan known as the Quality Assurance Program evaluates the effectiveness of care within the TRICARE and Veterans Health Administration systems, aiming to optimize quality, access, and cost.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plan that continually assesses the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient care in the TRICARE and Veterans Health Administration programs is known as a Quality Assurance Program. This program is designed to ensure that the services provided to U.S. veterans, including health care services and benefits programs, are of the highest quality and efficiency. Evaluations under this program could include systematic investigations of program merits, outcomes, and processes, taking into consideration factors like how closely the services provided adhere to the original model, the retention of housing for veterans, and cost-benefit analyses.
In broader terms, a Quality Assurance Program aims to strike the right balance between quality, access, and cost in healthcare systems. Whether within the largely private U.S. system that strives for high-quality care and innovation or in systems of other countries that seek to provide universal access and control costs, the overarching challenge is to maintain a healthcare system that offers high-quality care, accessibility to services, and managed costs effectively.