I don't get why anyone here is aghast at the conditions at the VA

[jmowreader]

If the Republicans ever regain a significant amount of power (that means both houses of Congress, or the executive branch), the first five words out of their mouths will be "We Must Privatize The VA."

You know that's what they're working up to. They're doing it to the post office now.

[cleveramerican]

1. A solution is the last thing they want

they are jumping on the issue as an act of political opportunism of the worst kind.
they want to see if its a handy billy club to beat the Dems over the head with for few weeks.
If they get a big reaction from their base they will beat this drum, while avoiding any talk of solutions right up until the election

[spin]

2. The problem with the VA should lead to a bipartisan effort to correct the issues. ...

Now is not the time for either the Democrats to circle the wagons around the administration or for the Republicans to make political hay out of the situation.

After the problem is effectively addressed, there will be plenty of time to play the political blame game. This problem has existed for decades and there's plenty of blame for both Republican and Demnocratic administrations.

[msongs]

3. maybe we should just put all VA medical recipients into the Medicare program and let

recipients go where they want as medicare patients, a step on the road to medicare for all

[jwirr]

4. I suggested that to my daughter and she said that then the patients would get lost in the system.

I disagree with her since I have never gotten lost in the system. But just posting to tell you what the reply to that will be. The Poster is correct - if the rethugs ever get the chance they will privatize it and then they will really get lost.

[Leme]

7. i think your daughter might be right in many cases

"she said that then the patients would get lost in the system"
-
People who now use the VA would have to find the services they now get there from someplace else. Where?
-
New doctors, new hospitals, new clinics, new therapy places, new pharmacies ?

[jwirr]

9. I am sure she was thinking of that. Also I later thought about the fact that when there is a disease

that is specific to a war - such as the agent orange issue - it might go unrecognized longer since they are not a unite. I also talked with a director of a VA nursing home and he talked about being able to talk to other vets about what happened to them in the war more easily if they were together.

[jmowreader]

5. The Medicare system isn't set up to deal with VA patients

I'm not talking volume, but rather the conditions we VA patients present with. Civilian hospitals don't see a lot of traumatic brain injuries, landmine amputations, PTSD, cancer from exposure to turbine oil the Air Force bought from the lowest bidder, Gulf War Syndrome, Agent Orange syndrome, jungle rot, spinal compression from jumping out of planes at 500 feet while carrying a hundred pounds of equipment every two weeks for ten years, or any of the other REALLY entertaining conditions we veterans show up at the VA with. Someone who treats large veteran populations (read: the VA) can more effectively manage the illnesses we have. Yes, "we" and not "they" is applicable here; I am a VA beneficiary.

The Pottery Barn Rule comes into effect here as well: Congress broke us, it can damn well pay to fix us. No just shoving us off on the civilian sector and telling the hospitals, "we'll pay you 40 cents on the dollar to fix these guys." As Bernie Sanders said, if you can't afford to take care of veterans you need to quit sending people to war.

[Sgent]

8. Especially for services

not offered within 10-20 miles of the resident's home.

I can't tell you how many rural people are massively underservered by the VA system.

[Ligyron]

6. I've gotten nothing but excellent care at every VA facility I've lived near.

Once you get into the system, you're golden. It's the wait to get in caused mainly by lack of funds that's apparently the problem. Thanks Congress for your service!