Trump Announces Big Changes At The VA, Finally Does What Congress Wouldn’t
SOURCE : https://goo.gl/Sy7Z6E
Perhaps the biggest crime by our government has been its treatment of our veterans. The men and women who risked their lives to protect us are often neglected. In some cases, they have been abused.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has been a disgrace for a long time. Hospitals that are supposed to provide care for our veterans are rank with corruption. Doctors and staff lie about patients, putting them on incredibly long waiting lists. They steal medicine and supplies. Often veterans are denied care outright, able to receive life-saving treatment.
Yet, for some reason, Congress has refused to act. Our lawmakers prioritized other issues, some worthless, while neglecting our veterans. Can someone explain to me how Planned Parenthood gets billions of our dollars, but veterans can’t even see a doctor? Something is very wrong.
But perhaps that’s about to change. President Trump is signing into a law an act that should radically change the VA.
From The Hill:
Today, President Trump prepares to sign the long awaited VA MISSION Act. The plot leading up to this legislation reminds us not just of the need to improve VA’s ability to coordinate healthcare for veterans outside of its own facilities, but also that in order to do so successfully, VA must re-focus on its mission.
Tucked away in Section 152 of the act is language that has helped to successfully reform the nation’s two largest government healthcare programs, Medicare and Medicaid — language that creates a center for health-care innovations.
…
Ideas piloted through a VA innovations center, like managed care, have the ability to truly transform VA’s ability to provide timely care to veterans and allow VA to refocus on its mission. They also provide a long-overdue opportunity for taxpayers to see a return on the investment they have made in caring for those “who have borne the battle.”
Managed care has been proven to work for Medicare. Seniors don’t have to jump through hoops just to see a doctor. The policy lets them choose a health plan and provider, with government benefits lowering the cost. That’s a damn sight better than sitting in government waiting room for hours or even days.
This new act will bring that concept to the VA. Veterans can use their benefits to choose a private doctor or medical provider. They don’t have to suffer through the pain and process of a VA—which might be run by incompetent or corrupt staff. They can receive the support they earned from the government, while enjoying a doctor who actually wants to help them.
What an idea!
That fact remains that our servicemen and women endured unspeakable challenges while in the field. They’ve seen things we can’t even process. Some have been hurt physically, some mentally. There’s no question they deserve the best care they can get.
With the MISSION ACT, they are a step closer to getting that help. And over time, the VA will be transformed into an agency that supports our troops in a way they deserve.