Posted on Jul 30, 2015
Congress OKs funding shift to keep VA hospitals open. Why was this action necessary?
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Veterans Affairs Department officials will get the budget help they need to avoid facility shutdowns in August after the Senate approved a last-minute deal Thursday.
The move comes a day after House lawmakers overwhelmingly backed the plan and about a week after VA Secretary Bob McDonald appeared on Capitol Hill to warn Congress that health care for tens of thousands of veterans could be disrupted without a budget fix.
The measure allows the VA to use about $3.3 billion in funds assigned solely to the new Choice Card program to cover other account shortfalls, a move that lawmakers have resisted over the last year.
But McDonald said use of the Choice Card program has grown slowly while outside care programs have increased dramatically, leading to the budget problems.
The measure includes language to consolidate all outside care efforts into a single “Veterans Choice Program,” to provide less bureaucracy and better funding flexibility. VA officials must submit plans to do that by November.
It also requires biweekly reports to Congress on how the transferred money is being spent, in response to lawmakers’ concerns they were caught unaware of the department’s mounting financial problems.
“We’re in this situation, quite frankly, because of gross ineptitude in planning that can only be characterized as malpractice in management,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, in the moments before the vote. “Congress cannot be expected to continue to bail out VA because of mismanagement.”
Department officials said they didn’t know the extent of the shortfall until the start of the summer, but have warned for the last year that inflexible budget accounts could create such fiscal woes.
But critics have accused the VA of covering up the budget problems until the last minute in order to raid the Choice Card program, authorized by Congress last summer in an effort to force the VA to give veterans wider options in their health care offerings.
Lawmakers set aside $10 billion for the temporary program, and have repeatedly resisted efforts to draw on that money for other purposes. But McDonald said other established outside care programs have proven to be a quicker outlet for getting veterans into doctors' offices, and freeing up the money better responds to the population’s needs.
The VA funding transfer was included as part of the three-month highway bill extension rushed through Congress in the final days of the summer session.
It also includes language expanding the Choice Card program to allow more veterans facing lengthy wait times for VA care to seek private-sector help, including exemptions for veterans who live within 40 miles of a VA clinic to go outside if that facility doesn’t offer the specialized services they need.
The bill also includes the so-called “Hire More Heroes” Act, billed by Republicans as both a boost to veterans employment and a chance to roll back part of the president's controversial health care law.
The measure would allow businesses to hire veterans without having them count as full-time employees under the Affordable Care Act, provided they already have health insurance through the VA or the Defense Department.
Congressional Democrats and the White House have publicly complained about the motivation behind the law but also offered limited objections, calling it a reasonable update to health insurance rules.
President Obama is expected to sign the measure into law in the next few days.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/30/congress-oks-funding-shift--keep-va-hospitals-open/30888187/
The move comes a day after House lawmakers overwhelmingly backed the plan and about a week after VA Secretary Bob McDonald appeared on Capitol Hill to warn Congress that health care for tens of thousands of veterans could be disrupted without a budget fix.
The measure allows the VA to use about $3.3 billion in funds assigned solely to the new Choice Card program to cover other account shortfalls, a move that lawmakers have resisted over the last year.
But McDonald said use of the Choice Card program has grown slowly while outside care programs have increased dramatically, leading to the budget problems.
The measure includes language to consolidate all outside care efforts into a single “Veterans Choice Program,” to provide less bureaucracy and better funding flexibility. VA officials must submit plans to do that by November.
It also requires biweekly reports to Congress on how the transferred money is being spent, in response to lawmakers’ concerns they were caught unaware of the department’s mounting financial problems.
“We’re in this situation, quite frankly, because of gross ineptitude in planning that can only be characterized as malpractice in management,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, in the moments before the vote. “Congress cannot be expected to continue to bail out VA because of mismanagement.”
Department officials said they didn’t know the extent of the shortfall until the start of the summer, but have warned for the last year that inflexible budget accounts could create such fiscal woes.
But critics have accused the VA of covering up the budget problems until the last minute in order to raid the Choice Card program, authorized by Congress last summer in an effort to force the VA to give veterans wider options in their health care offerings.
Lawmakers set aside $10 billion for the temporary program, and have repeatedly resisted efforts to draw on that money for other purposes. But McDonald said other established outside care programs have proven to be a quicker outlet for getting veterans into doctors' offices, and freeing up the money better responds to the population’s needs.
The VA funding transfer was included as part of the three-month highway bill extension rushed through Congress in the final days of the summer session.
It also includes language expanding the Choice Card program to allow more veterans facing lengthy wait times for VA care to seek private-sector help, including exemptions for veterans who live within 40 miles of a VA clinic to go outside if that facility doesn’t offer the specialized services they need.
The bill also includes the so-called “Hire More Heroes” Act, billed by Republicans as both a boost to veterans employment and a chance to roll back part of the president's controversial health care law.
The measure would allow businesses to hire veterans without having them count as full-time employees under the Affordable Care Act, provided they already have health insurance through the VA or the Defense Department.
Congressional Democrats and the White House have publicly complained about the motivation behind the law but also offered limited objections, calling it a reasonable update to health insurance rules.
President Obama is expected to sign the measure into law in the next few days.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/30/congress-oks-funding-shift--keep-va-hospitals-open/30888187/
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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That is good news GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad . I did not know that there was actually a threat that the VA Hospitals would be closed for lack of funding.
In fact I was at my VA Medical Center yesterday for a Thallium Stress Test. I am thankful for the treatment, care and professionalism offered within the VA medical System
In fact I was at my VA Medical Center yesterday for a Thallium Stress Test. I am thankful for the treatment, care and professionalism offered within the VA medical System
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Isn't this just "robbing Peter to pay Paul" to crib a quote from my Christian brothers and sisters?
LCDR (Join to see)
It is to an extent but I don't think it's a bad thing in this case.
In this situation, Choice Card "Peter" was funded over what ended up being spent on it, whereas the bulk of the VA Hospitals "Paul" were funded less than what ended up being spent. The overall VA budget actually didn't increase with this approval, it was just an approval to shift funds.
If more veterans had used Choice Card, "Peter" wouldn't have had the money to give "Paul" but the veterans either weren't comfortable yet with Choice Card, or it was too hard to use.
Basically the funding levels for each were based on predicted use. The predictions were wrong about how many would use each system and the money had to be shifted.
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow CPT (Join to see)
In this situation, Choice Card "Peter" was funded over what ended up being spent on it, whereas the bulk of the VA Hospitals "Paul" were funded less than what ended up being spent. The overall VA budget actually didn't increase with this approval, it was just an approval to shift funds.
If more veterans had used Choice Card, "Peter" wouldn't have had the money to give "Paul" but the veterans either weren't comfortable yet with Choice Card, or it was too hard to use.
Basically the funding levels for each were based on predicted use. The predictions were wrong about how many would use each system and the money had to be shifted.
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow CPT (Join to see)
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It still amazes me that the VA was "surprised" by their patient load this year...
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
While I am happy that the VA will get their funding and we vets will continue to get our health care, I am really starting to get fed up with this last minute shit. I remember a few years ago when I was still on active duty, and the threat of DoD shutting down and the military having to work without pay was a very real threat. A lot of financial institutions that members banked with had already started posting half pay checks to accounts (my bank Navy Federal included) and CONgress signed a last-minute extension. And the underlying problem STILL isn't fixed. That's what I see with the VA's budget right now.
Of course the VA COULD help themselves by maintaining accountability for their spending as outlined in your post, but we'll have to wait and see if that actually happens.
While I am happy that the VA will get their funding and we vets will continue to get our health care, I am really starting to get fed up with this last minute shit. I remember a few years ago when I was still on active duty, and the threat of DoD shutting down and the military having to work without pay was a very real threat. A lot of financial institutions that members banked with had already started posting half pay checks to accounts (my bank Navy Federal included) and CONgress signed a last-minute extension. And the underlying problem STILL isn't fixed. That's what I see with the VA's budget right now.
Of course the VA COULD help themselves by maintaining accountability for their spending as outlined in your post, but we'll have to wait and see if that actually happens.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I am re-posting my response to a more broader VA funding question that was merged into this one. The issue is how to improve use of tax dollars to improve VA service to veterans.
1st construction costs should be set aside for professional building design and construction companies under an impartial watchdog organization.
2nd Medical doctors, nurses, technicians need to have less bureaucratic oversight of their treatment recommendations, decisions and plans.
Biennial funding would be a start to improve funding, letting unused funds be used the following year would be another good idea. The "color of money" rules should be changed to allow funds for treatment of veterans to be moved from one of the programs to another without congressional approval but with IG oversight.
I used the Choice Card program this summer - it got off to a rough start but worked more smoothly after I assisted the doctors's office in their communications with VA Choice Program.
Edit
1st construction costs should be set aside for professional building design and construction companies under an impartial watchdog organization.
2nd Medical doctors, nurses, technicians need to have less bureaucratic oversight of their treatment recommendations, decisions and plans.
Biennial funding would be a start to improve funding, letting unused funds be used the following year would be another good idea. The "color of money" rules should be changed to allow funds for treatment of veterans to be moved from one of the programs to another without congressional approval but with IG oversight.
I used the Choice Card program this summer - it got off to a rough start but worked more smoothly after I assisted the doctors's office in their communications with VA Choice Program.
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"The Senate passed a bill Thursday allowing the VA to take the money from a $10 billion emergency fund created last summer to help veterans caught up in the troubled health care system’s wait-time scandal. The House voted in favor of the measure Wednesday evening."
YGBSM!
YGBSM!
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“We’re in this situation, quite frankly, because of gross ineptitude in planning that can only be characterized as malpractice in management,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, in the moments before the vote. “Congress cannot be expected to continue to bail out VA because of mismanagement.” And what about Congress and their gross ineptitude in planning and malpractice in managing our country? Why should the American people continue to bail out our nation because of the mismanagement of Congress?
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There should be no funding shift. We owe it to our troops to fully fund the VA.
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LCDR (Join to see)
This is fully funding it, but I definitely understand the frustration and agree.
Where the money comes from doesn't bother me since the Choice Card money will expire in September as well and be refunded for next fiscal year. If the move made Choice Card too low I would agree that it was a bad move, but at least on the surface that doesn't seem to be the case.
SSgt Alex Robinson
Where the money comes from doesn't bother me since the Choice Card money will expire in September as well and be refunded for next fiscal year. If the move made Choice Card too low I would agree that it was a bad move, but at least on the surface that doesn't seem to be the case.
SSgt Alex Robinson
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It is a shame that the VA does not start by closing top management, and middle management positions along with all bonuses.
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Biweekly reports...smells like the beginnings of accountability, something sorely lacking at the VA. And while we don't expect Congress to continue to bail out VA because of mismanagement, we do expect them to follow through and hold its' management accountable.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Why don't we have an accountable VA? | RallyPoint
Five hundred and fourteen days. That’s how long it took to get the emergency department at the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in my home state of Kansas reopened after it was closed in 2013 due to a staffing shortage. Only after numerous phone calls, letters, meetings and more were we able to navigate through the bureaucracy of the Department of Veterans Affairs. For nearly two years, our veterans in Topeka and across Kansas were left...
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CPT Pedro Meza
CPT Thomas R. Issacs, we are the ones that elect and keeping electing all Congress men and women. So the change begins with us, I advice all to vote across party lines and stop being distracted by the conservative vs liberal smoke screen.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT Pedro Meza , I like your advice, if I may, I would also advise, don' vote for the incumbent. I still think the VA is incompetent and "sneaky":)
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