Should the VA be privatized?

COL Lee Flemming — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 08:53:50 -0400

In a matter of months we could have our first President that comes from the business world. Service personnel are underserviced, and are committing suicide at an alarming rate. And it is no secret that the VA has had its share of difficulties meeting the demand of the military community. Is it time for us to look at other ways of solving this extremely important problem. Could privatization help?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Aug 9 at 2016 9:01 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:01:41 -0400

No. I like having a health system that is dedicated to the unique needs of veterans. I think it needs to be reformed and restructured, but not privatized. Markets do fail, so the private market doesn't solve every problem.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 9:02 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:02:53 -0400

I'd like to see them offer subsidized insurance rather than treatment at a Government Owned facility for sure. I'd like to see good cost estimates between subsidizing an insurance policy and running the VA. You could probably increase the quality of care and decrease costs by providing insurance to vets rather than treating them directly. If so the VA should be reserved for War specific items that are not common place in commercial healthcare (like agent orange symptoms).

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 9:11 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:11:13 -0400

Why not just provide an option of insurance for the private sector of the VA facility. My step dad was 85 and the 65 mile drive to the VA plus the wait was hard on him.

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Aug 9 at 2016 9:11 AM

Col Rebecca Lorraine — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:11:41 -0400

Good question. Let me dwell on this.

Response by PFC Al Sethre made Aug 9 at 2016 9:46 AM

PFC Al Sethre — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:46:52 -0400

Profits before patients? Could be a slippery slope...

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 9 at 2016 9:47 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:47:05 -0400

Privatized like footing the bill for limited insurance coverage? Maybe OK. Privatized as in contracted out? Be careful. Although the Vet may get some better and more timely service, the profit incentive would be based on services provided, many of them not service connected, unnecessary, etc. The taxpayer would get hit with an order of magnitude greater bill and then the firestorm ensues. It would be Medicare fraud on steroids because the Government wouldn't have adequate oversight. The only saving grace would be the relatively small demographic of Vets compared to the over 65 general population. Problem with any type of reform, people quickly see the type of improvement they want but neglect to dig through the consequences. Like any system you implement, lack of controls means it runs amok.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 9 at 2016 10:08 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:08:17 -0400

Privatization on some level is the only way to circumvent the dysfunctional bureaucracy at the VA, even if only as a safety valve to relieve high service demand in some locations.

If a VA card could be used to get services at any civilian facility it would eliminate the waiting lists immediately and cut down the incentive for the VA to deny services to veterans as a way to get them off the waiting list and onto the appeals list instead.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 9 at 2016 10:25 AM

SSG Drew Cook — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:25:38 -0400

I am for subsidized healthcare, or a massive increase in the budget for the VA. I've been retired for a little over 3 years, and have used VA healthcare once and will likely never again unless I'm convinced otherwise. That was the biggest joke I had ever experienced. It was literally disgusting. Very thankful for Tricare!

Response by CPO Mark Lovelace, CSP made Aug 9 at 2016 10:28 AM

CPO Mark Lovelace, CSP — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:28:40 -0400

Absolutely not. Care of our veterans should be one of our very highest priorities, and NOT an opportunity to make more fat cats billionaires.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 9 at 2016 10:34 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:34:44 -0400

This is interesting reading, regarding funding for the VA.

https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22897.pdf

RS22897.pdf

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 10:41 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:41:38 -0400

No and Hell no.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 9 at 2016 11:41 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 11:41:21 -0400

In the entire history of the VA, the Health Services aspect has NEVER been successful. The Afterlife and Education however do exactly what they are supposed to. The difference is that one department has to treat everyone differently (medical), while the other two treat everyone exactly the same. Bureaucracies are wonderful if they can treat everyone the same. That's what they are designed for. They are horrible when dealing with "unique" problems.

Unfortunately, the concept of "Privatizing" the VA just trades one Bureaucracy (Government) for another (Corporate). This is not to say there are not advantages to Corporate Bureaucracies. The major one is "efficiency." Government has ZERO requirement for efficiency. It's not like you can go to the Dept of VA next door if you don't like this one. Corporate "may" have competition, which increases the likelihood that they must become efficient AND effective, lest you choose another vendor.

Therefore, the issue is not the "provider" but the "monopoly" of service. If we are just going to trade monopolies, we gain little.

Alternately, we have the option of changing "oversight" but that is a much more difficult proposition.

CC COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Joseph Lenertz

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 9 at 2016 12:09 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:09:03 -0400

Hell NO, seen any contractors get things done on time on target without wanting mega-bucks for it? Its bad enough now, but at least we can force some issues/concerns by getting Congress and VA Leadership involved.

Response by SGT Tim Soyars made Aug 9 at 2016 12:23 PM

SGT Tim Soyars — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:23:34 -0400

I have been very blessed to be treated at one of the top VA hospital, Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC, in Richmond, VA. Say what you will, but if I had been at a "for profit" hospital, I would be dead today. I was treated for non-alcoholic liver failure. I have have a transplant through the VA. I have a unique perspective in this, as I am a healthcare provider (RN & Paramedic). The VA recently started a program where, if you are greater than 60 miles from a VA facility or cannot get an appointment for greater than 30 days out, you can be seen my a private physician, PT, etc. Yhe VA is also contracting with private mental health providers to see certain veterens in the out-patient setting. The VA has a special position, as I have experienced, in working with the unique mindset of veterens. While my transplant was performed at VCU Medical Center, it was not until I returned to the VA hospital for recovery and rehab that I was pushed to obtain the physical results I was capable of. Things happened quicker there, too. At VCU, a resident or fellow would stat they were ordering a medication or test and I could be 24 hours before the nurses had the orders. At the VA, the orders were put in the computer by the physician as they stood at my bedside. Within a very short period, the nurse would come in and update me to the orders. While I realize that the VAMC may not be the norm across the board, it is the example they all should follow. In the end, it IS all about the patient.

Response by SSG Doug Slaats made Aug 9 at 2016 12:38 PM

SSG Doug Slaats — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:38:59 -0400

No. The VA should not privatized. Veterans need to become more education on how the system works. Many Veterans do not understand that it is not one system, but three divisions of the VA. Which are Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA). Many of the complaints against the VA are dealing with VBA which this is where most of the backlog is at this time. Which has little to no deals the VHA the only time the VHA is used in the claim process is to do a comp and pen appointment. VHA from my personnel experience has been very positive for the most part. Not saying it is perfect I have had waited longer then I like sometimes and driving 50+ miles. No insurance is perfect. That is also true with mine personnel insurance form work I have had to wait four months before to get appointment and drive over 100 miles. The system in place can and should be improved, but the only way that will happen is if laws are changed and budgets are increased or fraud and wasted is removed. Leaders and all personnel in the VA must be held to account for their actions and stop the quick media reaction fixes.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Aug 9 at 2016 12:43 PM

SFC Wade W. — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:43:54 -0400

No sir. I have voiced this before. I am currently using Choice Program for neurologist and none of them understand me, my concerns or give any validity to my point of view. At least when I speak with people at the VA they know what, where and how when I speak about my military experience. I do not want my VA closed. I appreciate them and they appreciate me.