APNewsBreak: VA OKs more private care for veterans

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will allow more veterans to obtain health care at private hospitals and clinics. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki (shin-SEHK’-ee) announced the change Saturday.

He says VA facilities are enhancing their clinic capacity to help veterans get care sooner. In cases where officials cannot increase capacity at VA centers, Shinseki says the agency is “increasing the care we acquire in the community through non-VA care.”

The VA is facing allegations that veterans have died while awaiting treatment at VA centers, and that employees have falsified appointment records to cover up delays in care.

Arizona Sen. John McCain and other lawmakers have called for the VA to allow more veterans to receive medical care at private hospitals.

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http://www.salon.com/2014/05/24/apnewsbreak_va_oks_more_private_care_for_veterans/

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/05/24/apnewsbreak_va_oks_more_private_care_for_veterans/

[salib]

1. Of course. There is money to be made here.

Probably even will have rules that mean the private providers (or the insurance companies managing reimbursement) make a KILLING.

[Leme]

11. Just saw this

My guess is I would have thought of it...eventually. Thanks for saving me thinking time. : )

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Probably not. They'll use Tricare rates which are very low. Probably will call on public clinics

like the one I work at that are already swamped to help them take up the slack. We are supposed to see people who live in county with no insurance. But we also see the massively ill folks on Medicare and Medicaid that no privates will see because they don't get paid enough to make it worth their while to treat people who take up so much clinic time for so little reimbursement.

The wait to get an appointment as a new patient at our clinics is six months. That is probably better than the VA, so they will tell the VA "Sure, send them on over." And the wait will be 9 or 12 months for anyone to get an appointment.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. You could see this coming a mile away.

When McGrumpy opens his pie hole,you know there is money to be stolen somewhere. I can see a short term effort being done to catch up on all the backlog of care created by McGrumpy and his friggen knuckle dragging liars and hypocrites,but,at the same time,VA facilities need to staffed up and I mean staffed up,none of this we will fill positions on selected basis. Sad to say,ain't going to happen. To many Bluedogs hanging around and they are the Corporate wing of our party and this bunch of slugs love the privatized option. Remember there are a ton of Bush/Cheney moled in hold overs in the VA. The politics of this issue is a bit interesting,it's the guys and gals that need the services that take the hit. At least Gates has been flushed,Hagel has to get his ass in gear and get things done.

[former9thward]

7. Hagel has nothing to do with the VA.

Neither did Gates. The DoD and the VA are completely separate agencies.

[stillwaiting]

8. Problem **** Reaction **** Solution

These assholes are ideologues that clearly and unarguably have purposefully created problems in order to privatize.

It's their M.O. for quite a a few different governmental functions, and they have their corporate media to convince the riff-raff to support their continuing corporate coups (which will provide less/no services for much more money).

We have a huge obstacle ahead of us.

[Skittles]

3. gee, who could have seen that coming?

[kelliekat44]

4. Now watch how the private providers bilk the government. Hope the care measures up.

VA actual care has been great when you get it. My family members have been satisfied.

[mopinko]

5. seeing as the obama admin has done more

to catch fraud, i expect this to be a pretty clean program.

"cynicism is a sorry sort of wisdom"
would be easy to shoot this down, political risks being what they are.

but know. "THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION" is doing the right think.
damn you obama.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Who could have seen THAT coming down the road?!?!

[greatlaurel]

9. That is what this "scandel" is all about, privatizing the VA for corporate profit.

The VA could be fully funded to really take care of our vets for much less than what this will cost with better care, too. Once they get the cash flowing to the private corps it will suck the VA dry, just like the charter schools are sucking the money from the public schools. It is the Shock Doctrine to privatize as many government services, as possible, and maximize corporate profits.

[iamthebandfanman]

10. expect more to follow..

this is the right wings plan after all... as it is with all government agencies... defund and then point fingers at it proclaiming it as an example of governmental failure (you know, the government they control the law creating ability over) ...

they are doing it in other places too...

they have cut staff at social security and other governmental agency offices .. at a time when use is still very high...

couldn't take the food outa peoples mouths at the mouth, so they'll go after the people working to give the food out...

[Leme]

12. hmmm

you say:

"couldn't take the food outa peoples mouths at the mouth, so they'll go after the people working to give the food out"
-
in your context: I think some have made a business out of putting food in people's mouths...or creating a constituency.

[Rozlee]

14. The VA paid for a couple of my mamograms at private radiology clinics before.

Even though I live within easy driving distance of both the Audie Murphy VA in San Antonio and the Kerrville VA. They've referred me to a civilian dermatologist in Boerne as well to rule out leishmaniasis. I don't know why they did that when they have the facilities to do it at Audie Murphy. But, I'm happy with the care I get at the VA. I like talking to other vets while I wait to see my docs. I like visiting the Rec Room for coffee and reading, browsing and shopping in the Patriot Store and hanging in the Canteen. I've never gotten the feeling that the VA is impersonal. I don't like the idea of getting farmed out to civilian hospitals.