I've heard similar complaints from other vets. I wonder if a better solution might be to give grants or big tax incentives to private doctors, nurses, philanthropic organizations, and volunteers to provide care for vets. That way you'd have people who truly care running the show, rather than a bunch of bureaucrats and the indifference and inefficiency that come with them.
The VA will get something like 87 Billion for medical services etc this year. My idea is to simply slash the budget and give VETs and others comparable services through private health care providers the same way corporate America does. Establish a contract (for bid) with a firm like Aetna, UHC, etc.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1289
How will this benefit the VET and tax payer? It adds competition to the equation and makes the VET a customer. When I walk into a medical office dollar signs pop into their eyes, and frankly that's good!
1. Vets no longer need to travel long distances for care.
2. Wait times for services and appointments will go down.
3. Quality of customer service in general will increase.
4. Options for the VET (types of procedures, medication, selection of care provider, etc) will increase.
The VA today is a cash cow for a lot of various people, but the VET is actually getting OK/mediocre care and poor service.
But I’m only dreaming because the VA social program, like Social Security (There’s another fine example of a social program) has become a multi billion dollar beast that won’t get slain, even if that would be the best option.