Posted on 01/12/2019 10:08:06 AM PST by Theoria
The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to shift billions of dollars from government-run veterans’ hospitals to private health care providers, setting the stage for the biggest transformation of the veterans’ medical system in a generation.
Under proposed guidelines, it would be easier for veterans to receive care in privately run hospitals and have the government pay for it. Veterans would also be allowed access to a system of proposed walk-in clinics, which would serve as a bridge between V.A. emergency rooms and private providers, and would require co-pays for treatment.
Veterans’ hospitals, which treat seven million patients annually, have struggled to see patients on time in recent years, hit by a double crush of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and aging Vietnam veterans. A scandal over hidden waiting lists in 2014 sent Congress searching for fixes, and in the years since, Republicans have pushed to send veterans to the private sector, while Democrats have favored increasing the number of doctors in the V.A.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The solution to the substandard care given by “union goons” masquerading as VA Hospital workers, is to sell off the VA facilities to private companies without any provision for any “worker retention.” This gives veterans better healthcare and eliminates the need to go through the odious process of firing the majority incompetents who currently staff the facilities.
No veteran should be treated in the VA medical system unless their condition is specifically service connected.
I've noticed that if I can manage to steer clear of the fat Black females that I can get good service at the VA.
It’s about time. My bud has to drive 90 miles for his appointments.
I like my VA care, from VA employees.
Would prefer to see money spent to improve it in the areas nelow standard.
Lot of abuse possible here, chance of medicaid type care.
Won’t make up for th Billions if not trillions they will burn when moving to Cerner from Vista... stupidest move I’ve ever seen. Someone took some huge bribes to make that idiocy happen and it will burn your tax money by the TRILLIONS never ending
i have to say that I’ve had the best medical treatment I’ve had in my life her from the Boise VA, and I was on H-P medical insurance for my whole career.
I only dropped the HP retirement insurance a year ago because they kept raising the premiums every year without paying for much of anything.
The effing NYT would rather write about fabricated chaos in the Trump administration than provide us information on what’s happening with the VA.
Sick, and tired of the left effing with my head.
I have for the last time given the NYT a chance to report to me what they claim to be legitimate perspective on issues.
Leftist politics is all the NYT is. Yeah! I’ve known that for a long time, but I kept giving the B-stards a chance.
“The solution to the substandard care given by “union goons” masquerading as VA Hospital workers, is to sell off the VA facilities to private companies without any provision for any “worker retention.” This gives veterans better healthcare and eliminates the need to go through the odious process of firing the majority incompetents who currently staff the facilities.”
It’s glaringly apparent you are not a vet who gets his care from the VA. Perhaps you ought to let them decide the best course.
Almost universally, veterans in priority group 3 and above will say VA care is the best they have ever had, anywhere, anytime.
And VA facilities offer services that are specific to vets and unavailable anywhere else. VA prosthetics and reconstruction of limbs is the best in the world.
Bar none.
The VFW, DAV and American Legion all support keeping the VA facilities and services.
Why don’t you?
“No veteran should be treated in the VA medical system unless their condition is specifically service connected.”
Not so much.
VA Priority Group 1 is for those with a 50% or greater disability (service connected). At 50% or greater all medical care and meds, or all types for all conditions, service connected or not, are covered by VA.
As they should be.
My gripe is with “indigent care”, and priority groups 4 and below. If there is NO service connected disability, they should NOT be in the system.
Sadly, that’s at least 1/2 of those who are.
“At least some of them are reportedly being scolded and insulted while being physically jerked around.”
I’ve never heard of that.
It would be helpful if you would share a link.
There are people inside and outside the system that can fix this.
I make all my appointment via the web, and exchange emails with my primary doc.
The only time I talk to the VA over the phone is when they call me, which is too often.
VA care is the BEST medical care I had in my entire life.
AFAIK, most VA patients whose problems aren’t service connected have their insurance providers billed. Anyone know otherwise?
“However, I have been a patient at SFVAMC for almost a decade and have received excellent treatment. “
The Norcal district is the best in the VA system.
I user the Mather facility outside Sacramento. Wonderful.
I’m due for a knee replacement and they offered me the choice of Combat Surgeons at Travis AFB, or Teaching Surgeons from UCSF in the SFVAMC.
Wait time is 10 working days from when I say go.
“Anyone know otherwise?”
Yes.
For those who’s service connected disability is less than 50%, but 30% and above, they can use VA facilities for non-connected conditions. Their insurance is billed for anything not service connected at market rates.
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