Posted on 07/09/2016 5:42:11 AM PDT by SandRat
Twelve of 15 commissioners appointed by Congress and the president to propose reforms to veterans’ healthcare have endorsed 18 “bold” steps to transform the system, but in the end rejected a push to dismantle it and to shift most veterans’ care into the private sector.
And yet, say critics of the Commission on Care including several veteran organizations, its final report released Tuesday still proposes to expand veterans’ rights to choose outside healthcare providers, enough to put traditional VA healthcare at significant risk over time.
The dangers, opponents contend, is that a steady shift of patients from VA to the private sector care by relaxing “choice” rules could explode VA spending, in turn forcing Congress to crimp on resources for VA-provided care including cutting edge specialty programs for the most disabled vets.
Give the option/CHOICE to any veteran.
REJECT BIG GOVERNMENT. DISMANTLE BIG GOVERNMENT.
Have used Choice Program once. It actually works. Several phone calls/emails involved. But in the end, saved me driving nearly 300 miles (round trip) to VAH.
Federal Union Employees.
End this and you will fix that.
Perhaps reduce the costs on one hand, but increase litigation costs on the other.
Both Republicans/Democrats supporting opening up the VA to all vets. The big tent so to speak. In an effort to save VA and pump it up financially via health insurance reimbursals. It isn’t working...
A friend of mine used the VA, they delayed getting her in, delayed tests, until it was too late to stop her cancer. If she had been able to get care outside the Va, there is a good chance she would still be alive. Those supporting the current system have financial ties.
I am retired Navy. I thought that service connected problems was what the VA did. Just in the last couple of years did I learn that they will care for any veteran who is basically indigent. There is no way congress is going to allocate enough money to really do this, and probably the more efficient the VA is the more patients they will have.
There are approx. 7 “Priority Groups” with VA medical care. Sliding scale so to speak. PG-1 is of course totally disabled vets. Next group 50%-100% (close approximation) and so on down the line. Even those vets with full health ins. coverage can obtain VA care as ins. cos. will reimburse VA.
My ex-father in law was a lawyer who did not plan for retirement at all but had to quit due to health reasons and lived on minimal social security. He was a four year non-combat, non-disabled Army veteran. He received (is receiving) very good care from the VA for totally non-service related issues such as diabetes. I can’t help but think that with all the disabled recent vets that we have there is something wrong with that system.
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