I haven’t embarrassed myself, Mariner.
Even Jim Noble who has an admitted vested interest in the VA system says at least that most of it should be privatized.
Give vets the same health system that Congress and the feds have and they will be far better off.
(Again, with concentrated specialties perpetuated in the private sector as they already are for other health areas.)
That is the position of the VSOs.
Primary, routine care in the private sector.
Specialty care at the VA.
There are several things the only the VA does well. I will cite a program I’m quite familiar with: Seeking Safety. It’s a program for people with PTSD and substance problems. And the group is all similarly affected and able to see it’s not just them.
Prosthetics is another. As is TBI long term rehab.
And the great risk all VSOs caution is the reimbursement rate.
If care providers are going to be reimbursed at the same rate as medicaid/medicare, there’s not a disabled vet in the country that would support the move.