Do you see the Military Healthcare System serving as a model for the nation? Why or Why Not?

2019-12-11T08:57:55-05:00

Two articles speak to issues specific to the military healthcare system:

- Dec 2017 in JAMA - is entitled Transforming the Military Healthcare System
- Feb 2013 in Military Medicine magazine - is entitled Leveraging the Military Healthcare System as a Laboratory for Health Care Reform

These are interesting companion articles to consider. So, the question is simple:

Do you believe that over the next 10-20 years the US healthcare system will move toward this kind of model for the nation? Why or Why Not?

The attached poll is designed to gauge RP members understanding of the VHA VISNs approach and seek the RP family's insight regarding the Good, the Bad and the Ugly about both the VHA and the non-VHA healthcare patient experience.

IMPORTANT: For all that respond to this post please be respectfully of those who share their thoughts from their unique perspectives. Also, please present your narrative arguments in the form of clearly stating the problem as you have observed it and making recommendations for resolution of any negative experiences that can or should be applied across nation either in the VHA, Commercial Healthcare or both systems!

COL Mikel J. Burroughs; COL Lee Flemming; COL Bill Barrett; Lt Col Charlie Brown; LTC Stephen C.; LCdr (Rabbah) Rona Matlow; Maj William W. 'Bill' Price; MAJ James Arnold;LTC Jason Mackay; Capt Dwayne Conyers; Maj Marty Hogan; CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member; SMSGT Gerald "Doc" Thomas; SCPO Morris Ramsey; MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi; SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth; Sgt Elizabeth Scheck; MSgt Paul Connors (Publishing)

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Dec 11 at 2019 9:12 AM

2019-12-11T09:12:05-05:00

I think they would like to use the military/VA system but it will prove to be too expensive. Remember that the military is basically young people and the biggest users of healthcare are the aged in the last five years of life.

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Dec 11 at 2019 9:12 AM

2019-12-11T09:12:46-05:00

I pray that as a country that we never become the military model in terms of healthcare. Sure, it sounds all great, but it's just something else for the government to control in our lives. We're already taxed for anything and everything, and this would just give the government another reason to raise our taxes. Remember in the U.S., it's illegal for a hospital emergency room to turn you away, even if you have no means to pay.

Obviously, this is a very deep issue and I don't understand the full complexities of it. I just think of the red tape I've had to go through with the VA, and the struggles I had while on active-duty with healthcare. It's not something I'd ever want to go back to.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 9:15 AM

2019-12-11T09:15:55-05:00

We don’t have a high enough Motrin production capacity in the US to have everyone on military style health care.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 11 at 2019 9:19 AM

2019-12-11T09:19:55-05:00

I was in '04-'08.
I had to get a lot of 'teeth work' due to poor oral hygiene as a kid and I crushed my foot and had to have surgery.
The dentist experience was poor, but I'm 100% that is on me due to such poor oral hygiene.
When I crushed my foot I was sitting in the TMC for about 4 hours before anyone would see me. Then a dr in training, or something like that, brought a bottle of clear fluid out, flushed my 'wound' and took me back into a room. They did x-rays, bandaged me up, and sent me away with 90 percocet until they could get me scheduled for surgery(which was two weeks later). They ended up putting 4 steel rods in my foot and cutting the middle 90% of my pinky toe off. Today I only have pain in the cold weather and I have no limp. During my injury I had a very negative attitude toward military medical system. I wouldn't want to see this level of "care" spent on any citizen. But now, 11 years later, I feel fine. I know I didn't need more attention than I received. I'm thankful for the Dr's that healed me and I'd shake their hand today. I would just say I hope they have curbed the amount of drugs they give to an injured person. 90 percs every 30 days sure was fun, but I can see someone getting hooked rather quickly.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 11 at 2019 9:48 AM

2019-12-11T09:48:29-05:00

Military health care is not the way to go!!! It’s a barely minimum care focused on getting you back at work based on ibuprofen 800 mg rather that improve overall well being and quality of life.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 11 at 2019 12:19 PM

2019-12-11T12:19:53-05:00

IF we get national healthcare, it will be some form of single payer, processed by insurance companies ala medicare.

Tricare and VA are not good models. VA COULD be good it it was not plagued by government workers, and if it was fully funded and staffed. Tricare tries to act like a for profit HMO but there is no competition so we are left holding the bag in every way. Military medical is atrocious and there is no accountability.

Response by LCpl Laurence Puco made Dec 11 at 2019 12:27 PM

2019-12-11T12:27:29-05:00

No, not the way it stands right now, maybe somewhere down the road!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 11 at 2019 1:38 PM

2019-12-11T13:38:27-05:00

Ummmmm....no.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 1:43 PM

2019-12-11T13:43:42-05:00

I've used VA for over 20 years with varying results. The key to doing so is patience. In this fast-paced society there is not much of that to go around. So, that is a factor to consider. Flexibility is of near-equal concern.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 11 at 2019 3:19 PM

2019-12-11T15:19:36-05:00

I like the one stop concept of it as opposed to going to different doctors.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-12-11T22:29:07-05:00

The model is a good model in theory, the practice needs to catch up and the amount of red tape involved reduced before I’d mirror it personally

Response by SFC David Dean made Dec 17 at 2019 2:24 AM

2019-12-17T02:24:22-05:00

The military structure for Health Care is first and foremost designed to respond to injury and casualty events related to military members with respect to and centered on combat. It is as well directed towards military members and then secondarily to our family members and/retirees. In effect, most of this system responds to these issues. The civilian realm has a wider spectrum of both real and perceived medical issues. To model our system towards the civilian populace would be problematic in a myriad of operational and functional ways that would be cost-effective but unlikely received with open arms in the civilian realm.