Veterans Affairs Chief Wants Bigger Role for Private Health Care

WASHINGTON—The top official at the Department of Veterans Affairs said he wants private-sector providers to play a larger role in veterans’ health care, a view likely to draw opposition for a Trump cabinet member who has enjoyed rare bipartisan support.

David Shulkin said in an interview that he wants to make the VA’s hospital system compete with private-sector providers for military veteran customers, which he said would give veterans greater choice over their health care.

His view on the future of the VA resembles that of the politically conservative Koch brothers, who recently announced they are launching a major effort to reshape the future of the nation’s largest health-care system.

“The direction I’m taking this is to give veterans more choice in their care,” Dr. Shulkin said, speaking from his office, “and be the decision maker for their care, which I fundamentally believe is a concept that has to be implemented.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/va-secretary-shulkin-wants-bigger-role-for-private-health-care-1511133920