OBJECTIVES: This paper compares the health promotion/disease prevention services received by veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care inside Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities with counterparts who reported receiving 90%+ of their care outside VA facilities. Results are compared with the U.S. Healthy People 2000 goals. METHODS: Random samples were drawn of 300 men and 150 women visiting primary care clinics in six VA facilities. A 66% adjusted response rate was achieved after two mailings (n = 1,703). For this analysis, those veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care inside VA facilities (n = 909) were compared with veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care outside VA facilities (n = 185). RESULTS: Of the 13 health promotion¿disease prevention services, 6 were significantly influenced by source of care. Five of the significant differences reflected statistically higher prevalence rates for those receiving 90%+ of their care inside the VA (mammograms and counseling for alcohol, nutrition, exercise, and seatbelt use). One reflected a higher prevalence rate for those receiving 90%+ of their care outside the VA system (tetanus boosters). CONCLUSIONS: Veterans receiving 90%+ of their care in VA facilities obtained more preventive services than counterparts using non-VA providers. Assessment and counseling services need to be targeted to more veterans to comply more fully with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and Healthy People 2000 objectives.