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unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 06:56 AM Jun 2014

New VA secretary plans to allow veterans to seek ‘purchased care’ at other hospitals

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/06/new-va-secretary-plans-to-allow-veterans-to-seek-purchased-care-at-other-hospitals/



New VA secretary plans to allow veterans to seek ‘purchased care’ at other hospitals
By Reuters
Friday, June 6, 2014 20:10 EDT

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – The acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs said on Friday the agency is putting out bids for “purchased care” that would allow veterans to be treated at other hospitals at the VA’s expense while cutting backlogs at its facilities.

“In far too many instances, in far too many locations, we have let our veterans down,” Sloan Gibson told reporters after a tour of the sprawling Audie Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio. VA hospitals and clinics will be open during non-traditional hours to expand coverage, said Gibson, who was appointed acting secretary of the department on May 30.

U.S. lawmakers engaged in bipartisan talks this week to address delays in the delivery of health care for military veterans. The talks came after former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned in late May amid a scandal over widespread schemes to mask care delays and protect staff bonus awards and salary increases.

“We have lost an awful lot of trust, and we have work to do to earn it back,” Gibson said. “With veterans, we will do that one veteran at a time.”

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“We have lost an awful lot of trust, and we have work to do to earn it back,”....

You are correct Mr. Gibson. There are three fundamental problems you must address when trying to fix the VA:

1. Political will
2. $$$$
3. Republicans

Political will: Both parties must step up to the table and vote to support our veterans. We have fought your wars and killed (y)our 'enemies'. And we have gotten fucked up in the process. Congresscritters must understand if you fuck over enough veterans long enough, it will bite you in the ass. We need to start phoning our 'representatives' and voting our conscience in every election.

$$$$: We're spending $5.6 billion dollars on a destroyer and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans? We're spending over $400 billion dollars for a not-ready-for-prime-time F-35 and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans? We're building a new aircraft carrier that will cost over $16 billion dollars and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans?. Virginia-class submarines cost $7 billion dollars and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans?

Republicans: Nuff said.
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New VA secretary plans to allow veterans to seek ‘purchased care’ at other hospitals (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP
I do think some backlog fixing is in order Leme Jun 2014 #1
"and seldom do programs go away" unhappycamper Jun 2014 #2
Just the beginning of making the VA a part of the private sector yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #4
What makes them think that veterans will get any faster care in private hospitals? PADemD Jun 2014 #3
Very good point yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #5
It's all about money. unhappycamper Jun 2014 #6
Immediate care for veterans PADemD Jun 2014 #7
 

Leme

(1,092 posts)
1. I do think some backlog fixing is in order
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 07:58 AM
Jun 2014

but giving money to hospitals for vets waiting too long is just a temporary fix... and seldom do programs go away.

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
2. "and seldom do programs go away"
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 08:12 AM
Jun 2014

How true. How long should we provide care for our veterans? One Year? Five years?

What's the maximum amount we should spend on our veterans?

A nation that does not take care of its veterans has no business making more of them.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
4. Just the beginning of making the VA a part of the private sector
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 09:35 AM
Jun 2014

I am so happy with the VA in Baltimore. I just hope this isn't the beginning of the end of the VA program. I feel for those who lost their lives but it seems like one bad hospital. The backlog is bad, but can be changed without throwing the whole program out which I can see them eventually doing especially if they like the new procedures of giving cards to Vets to use private hospitals.

PADemD

(4,482 posts)
3. What makes them think that veterans will get any faster care in private hospitals?
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 08:58 AM
Jun 2014

One of my relatives (not a veteran) was diagnosed with cancer in late May and did not have surgery until late September.

In our rural area, it takes months to get an appointment with specialists.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
5. Very good point
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 09:36 AM
Jun 2014

It took a friends of mine about 3 months to get a colonoscopy. I forgot that until I read you post.

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
6. It's all about money.
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 09:36 AM
Jun 2014

It takes money and time to hire doctors, nurses and upgrade facilities.

I think the idea is to immediately take care of the veterans that VA facilities have neglected.

Shinseki changed measurement metrics to get folks into the VA quicker. Some assholes at the VA could not meet the metric, so they fudged their results to make their numbers, hence the current 'scandal'.

PADemD

(4,482 posts)
7. Immediate care for veterans
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 09:55 AM
Jun 2014

Immediate care for veterans by private hospitals will require bumping other patients with serious illnesses who have also waited months for an appointment.

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