I stand (well, sit) corrected. If there is a valid medical reason to support this move, then I do not see an issue with it. I would imagine that some veterans who are not near a military medical facility may have issues getting care, but this is already the case for those that are not near a VA medical facility.
Thank you all for your service.
You hit the nail on the head regarding the main problem with the program I’m in at the post hospital I’m within a few miles of:
What about “veterans who are not near a military medical facility....”
I consider myself very fortunate, however when I move away from here in a few more years, I’ll be out where the nearest military post is over 150 miles away.
I’ve been advocating some form of merge for a while.
One thing it would allow is military reserve medical folks from all services and the guard, or even entire units, to perform some of their annual obligations at VA centers. They could run plus up clinics to help fix backlogs or get teams out to help underserved communities.
Another advantage is that in a military town, retirees staying in the area would get some level of continuity of care.
But we still need portability of benefits for those not near a VA med or military facility.