Is this just throwing money at the problem? House panel supports closing VA’s $2.6 billion funding gap.

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:06:54 -0400

Note: Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla), House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, never served and will never be treated in a VA facility.

The VA told lawmakers it is $2.6 billion short on funding because patients and appointments have ballooned over the past year. It wants to cover the shortfall by tapping into an emergency $10 billion Veterans Choice fund created by Congress last summer to provide outside health care to veterans who cannot get timely appointments at the VA.

“In the coming weeks, I will work with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to give VA the flexibility it is seeking to use a limited amount of Choice funds for non-VA care and ensure that no veteran suffers as a result of VA’s mismanagement of the generous budget the American taxpayers have provided,” Miller said

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/house-panel-supports-closing-va-s-2-6-billion-funding-gap-1.354590

House panel supports closing VA’s $2.6 billion funding gap

Despite harsh criticism, a House oversight committee said it supports giving the Department of Veterans Affairs more spending flexibility to head off a $2.6 billion financial shortfall this year.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Jun 26 at 2015 9:09 AM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:09:38 -0400

Robbing Peter toPay Paul?

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jun 26 at 2015 9:09 AM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:09:46 -0400

It like putting perfume on a skunk

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 26 at 2015 9:13 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:13:40 -0400

No real other way to say it.

Response by CSM Jennifer Dehorty made Jun 26 at 2015 9:15 AM

CSM Jennifer Dehorty — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:15:43 -0400

I don't think it is. What we don't have are the hard numbers to show the increase in veterans seeking treatment/benefits. What you don't get to see is the veteran that is being treated for a chronic illness, so they aren't a 'new' number, but are counted in the provider numbers. Without having that hard data, I don't see how we can draw a conclusion either for or against.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 15 at 2015 12:40 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:40:12 -0400

And the ball keeps rolling downhill.
First they need to find out how exactly the money they do have is being handled because obviously its mismanaged and I don't think its proper to give more money to someone who cannot manage what they do have.
So next year and the following years what will happen? Are they going to keep tapping into other funds?
Fix the problem with accountability before throwing more money at the VA.