Posted on 03/29/2018 8:50:32 AM PDT by gattaca
David Shulkin, former U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs
David Shulkin, whom President Donald Trump fired as Veterans Affairs secretary, offered a parting shot in an op-ed for The New York Times – warning that privatizing the VA Department could hurt veterans.
"Privatization leading to the dismantling of the department's extensive health care system is a terrible idea," Shulkin wrote. "The department's understanding of service-related health problems, its groundbreaking research and its special ability to work with military veterans cannot be easily replicated in the private sector."
Trump fired Shulkin Wednesday, making the announcement over Twitter. The president picked the White House physician, Admiral Ronny Jackson, to run the department.
Shulkin had become embroiled in scandals and conflicts in the latter part of his short tenure atop the government's second-biggest bureaucracy. In his New York Times article, and in an interview with NPR on Thursday morning, Shulkin said much of the conflict came from political appointees within the VA pressing for privatization.
"They saw me as an obstacle to privatization who had to be removed. That is because I am convinced that privatization is a political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with profits, even if it undermines care for veterans," Shulkin wrote.
President Trump speaks with Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin. Department of Veterans Affairs photo Robert Turtil President Trump speaks with Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin. In his NPR interview, Shulkin did not disclose the reason he was given for his termination, although he said he was under great pressure from political appointees pushing to privatize the VA's services. Trump has often advocated for more private-sector involvement in veterans' medical care.
Shulkin's job of overseeing the nation's biggest integrated health-care system was widely considered to be hanging by a thread, due to several issues, including an ethics probe over a trip to Europe. In February, the VA's inspector general issued a report that criticized Shulkin for having a subordinate to handle personal travel plans for the secretary during what was otherwise a business trip. The report also dinged him for improperly accepting tickets to the tennis tournament at Wimbledon.
Speaking to NPR, Shulkin defended the trip as official business, saying it was "far from" the "European vacation" his critics described it as. He also told the radio interviewers that he kept quiet during the scandal because the White House told him not to respond to the allegations.
"I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House, who told me that they didn't want me responding," Shulkin told NPR.
By all accounts, though, the outgoing VA secretary had fallen from grace in the president's eyes.
Yet Shulkin touted what he considered the success of the department under his management.
"We passed critical legislation that improved the appeals process for veterans seeking disability benefits, enacted a new G.I. Bill and helped ensure that we hire the right people to work at the department," he wrote in the Times. "We have expanded access to health care by reducing wait times, increasing productivity and working more closely with the private sector."
In a parting shot, Shulkin ended the piece by writing: "As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country."
Yes, Mr. Shulkin, because the VA, our only example of complete government-controlled healthcare, is doing such a sterling job.
“It should not be this hard to serve your country.”
Waaaaaa! Pack it up snowflake and stop whining.
Trump and his guys are smart enough to TEST BED any move in that direction to see what the possible shortfalls might be.
I’m a vet in the VA system and on balance have had a good experience there. As for the VA having some unique experience with vets, nearly all the medical folks who have provided care are from the LOCAL MEDICAL COLLEGES.
To the Democrats, the VA is just a big pot of gold to steal from.
When does Session’s contract end?
FALSE PREMISE!!
Trumps proposal is NOT “Privatizing”!!!
It is to allow an OPTION for private coverage.
Everyone knows the government always does a better job than the private sector in any endeavor they undertake. Except in every known example in American history...other than that trust your government.
I don’t necessarily disagree completely with Shulkin, but here’s what I’d like to see. I can use my local VA outpatient clinic here in Tallahassee for routine care, but if I need any detailed testing or advanced care, I have to travel all the way to Gainesville which is a 2 hour trip each way. I’d much rather be able to use a local provider and have the VA cover it, instead of having to take a day off work and take the ride down I-75.
warning that privatizing the VA Department could hurt veterans.....Worse than a bureaucratic “gimme” scam? I got into a terrible argument with some Ahole a year ago on FR when I said sell all the VA land, fire the slackards and disgraced help from private care and allow them to go to REAL Health care.
I’ve watched my little VA hospital go from having few physicians to many physicians to few physicians.
Most doctors don’t want to work for the VA.
Obamacare caused lots of doctors to work for the VA. Obamacare was ruining their private practices.
Now, the doctors have left the VA to return to private practice.
That doesn’t stop congress from throwing money at the VA.
My little VA hospital spent millions of dollars a few years ago to build a new psychiatric ward.
They couldn’t find anyone to work there.
Guess what they’re doing now?
They’re building another psychiatric ward.
The Veterans are a non-issue. Buying Democrat votes is the issue.
“I think it’s a good idea to shrink the bureaucracy and let vets get quicker treatment.”
Agreed. I get EXCELLENT healthcare through my VA Hospital. They have also sent me to a local hospital for a mammogram, which was closer to me and more convenient than driving the hour to Madison and back.
I am also in their Colon Cancer control group and their Breast Cancer research group. The VA does a lot more than it toots its own horn about!
And we female Vets have our own area of the hospital to use, with all female staff; many retired Vets, themselves. We have exercise classes, a nutritionist available, healthy baby classes, and wellness groups for those with PTSD and depression issues (WAY too many females have these problems now since ODS/DS/Kuwait/Iraq/Afghanistan.) It’s like a SPA. I love it and I can’t praise it enough! :)
There are so many eligible Veterans who live Rural and are NOT getting the care they have EARNED and DESERVE. Opening up regular hospitals to them should be a no-brainer and you’d think hospitals would be JUMPING at the chance to serve Vets as well as civilians.
“It should not be this hard to serve your country.”
Service is always hard. It requires putting the needs of others ahead of your person.
Do you think its easy for service members in combat zones?
Do you think what our President is trying to do is easy?
Do you think he might have chosen an easier path after his successful business career?
The problem with the VA is attitude toward service and service members. And yours Mr. Shulkin sucks.
I worked for the VA healthcare system. It does some things well, probably somethings that you dont need to privatize, but a lot of what goes on there can be privatized, and when I worked there, are argued for that. But most of those there were just looking out for their JOBS...
shulkin is a scum sucking parasite that should have been tossed out months ago.
When I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 3.5 years ago, I established a doctor-patient relationship with a primary care doctor at the VA in Houston. At the first of 2017, our insurance deductible went up to $5,800/year for each my wife and me.
Made an appointment with my VA doctor to get in the VA Choice program. Was told I’d need to meet with a VA oncologist to get the approval to have the VA pay my out of pocket expenses and wouldn’t be able to see the oncologist fr a coupe of weeks.
Two days later, I got a call in the morning from the VA telling me my request was approved and the outside company that administers the program would be calling me by 5:00 p.m. the same day; and they did. Did not have to meet with the VA oncologist.
The VA is paying for all my out of pocket expenses at MD Anderson, the best cancer center in the world.
Other than the individual mandate, Obama care never really ended.
The VA bureaucrats are organized crime.
I just calls em like I sees em.
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