Do you think merging VA healthcare with another entity such as DoD healthcare or University teaching hospitals is a good idea?

I think our vets should just be given a universal health card that can be used in any hospital or clinic in the United States. Take existing VA Hospitals and convert them back into civilian hospitals and man them with the doctors and nurses we have across this country.

I have an amazing idea. Take the average amount of money the VA spends on a service, such as surgery, therapy, etc and give the veteran a voucher for that amount. Any money they have left over they get a check for 10% of that amount. When you have an incentive to save money you will always find an option that works for you. Concerning your questions about teaching hospitals....maybe, but only if it cut costs and delivered better service. Which honestly anything would be better than the VA.

Wayne, all major VA Medical Centers are arrayed with a University hospital.

Both have been tried. The military cuts you off and doesn't want you there. The Universities tend to send unqualified students

I would rather be a healthy peasant than a rich king

Our Health is the greatest of all our possessions. That's why it's imperative that the VA assures that Veterans care is improved and get rid of the Manager's that are falsifying records on appointments and their facilities are providing sub par care so they can receive bonuses how selfish is that. These unscrupulous Manager's put their bonuses above the life's of Veterans. That's very cold blooded. We know that in battle serving some of us will never return home alive. However that shouldn't be case losing lives of Veterans because they couldn't get an appointment. We must contact our elected politicians and let them hear it from us that we will not stand for Veterans to continually be mistreated and receive sub par care.

Just because I receive good care from the VA facility in Martinez California. It doesn't make me feel any better knowing that somewhere out there a Veteran died because he or she couldn't get an appointment or they committed suicide because they were so frustrated with the system.

Keep in mind how long did our government deny agent orange? I wasn't there but I talked to so many guys that explained how the herbicide was all over the foliage and everything around them. Now let's fast forward almost 700,000 of us were sent to the Persian Gulf in 1991. Many returned with illnesses that couldn't be determined what they were. Headaches, nausea and rashes etc. Later to know as the Gulf War Illness. Most of the Veterans are having a heck of a time with the VA Benefits system again because the government is in denial.

This is not right it's unacceptable and should not be happening at all! Although the system has improved there is still a lot of work to be done. Again I say we as brothers and sisters we must hold these so called Veteran friendly Politicians accountable to deliver not on promises but on what's right. Let's not let them continue to play Russian roulette with our health care. Because our health is the main source off our wealth!

Peace!

Let's wait and see what the additional proposed cost to the disabled Veterans will be. The guy in the WH is set on privatizing the VA medical along with the backing from the Koch brothers. Although neither of them have convinced me they the the Veterans best interest in hand.

Peace!

I know VA hospitals have limited interaction with universities so it might not be a bad idea to expand that or take them over as you suggested.

Is creating a bigger bureaucracy better?