VA Choice would expand under McCain proposal. Will This Be Good For Vets?

2015-08-08T22:14:41-04:00

Sen. John McCain introduced a bill Wednesday that would extend the VA Choice Card program indefinitely and expand eligibility to include every veteran enrolled in VA health care.

Saying the Veterans Affairs Department has been "slow to implement the program" since enactment a year ago of the law broadening private care options for veterans, the Arizona Republican believes his bill would remove any lingering uncertainty about the program, which will end in 2017.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2015/08/07/va-choice-would-expand-under-mccain-proposal/31282197/

VA Choice would expand under McCain proposal

Sen. John McCain introduced a bill Wednesdaythat would extend theVA Choice Card program indefinitelyand expand eligibility to include every veteran enrolled in VA health care.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 8 at 2015 10:17 PM

2015-08-08T22:17:13-04:00

Awesome and its about the Veterans getting their just dues. I am glad Senator McCain is lobbying for our VA benefits. Kudos!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2015 10:17 PM

2015-08-08T22:17:28-04:00

At the very least, we would get care.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 8 at 2015 10:20 PM

2015-08-08T22:20:40-04:00

Yes, I believe it would especially in areas where the VA Medical Centers are short of specialized doctors and areas with large distances between VA Medical Centers SGT Private RallyPoint Member.
I have received great care from local specialized doctors who were coordinated by the VA Choice Program.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 8 at 2015 10:23 PM

2015-08-08T22:23:14-04:00

As long as it provides better coverage for our Veterans I am for it....but what's up with that photo of Sen. McCain sticking his tongue out?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 8 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-08-08T22:25:11-04:00

Yes this is a good idea. Perhaps it would be best to dismantle the VA medical side and let vets seek care from doctors in their community and just have the VA cover the expense.

Response by SFC Gary Burress made Aug 8 at 2015 10:42 PM

2015-08-08T22:42:46-04:00

Might be the best thing I have seen coming from Sen McCain since he lost the presidential election in 08.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2015 10:48 PM

2015-08-08T22:48:42-04:00

Yes, I missed the boundary by only 1.3 miles!!!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 8 at 2015 11:02 PM

2015-08-08T23:02:20-04:00

Where did they find that picture?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 7:46 AM

2015-08-09T07:46:23-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I will have to do some more reading to give you my $0.02 cents on this topic. But I had to let you know your picture defiantly got my attention when looking through new questions.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Aug 10 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-08-10T08:37:20-04:00

Let me preface that I retired as the Supply Chief after 31+ years with VA. This being said, from my perspective I'm unsure where this would take veterans care in the future. Currently, there is a national network of physicians, researchers and others whose whole mission is focused on veterans care and the issues that affect veterans. When you move this out to the general population, where does this network go? I recall my family doctor, who himself was a former Solider and while he read and took CME (Continuing Medical Education) classes, he wasn't tied into any national network to share experiences with particular aliments. We would talk about PTSD and while he was familiar with it, he would prescribe the necessary medication and make the necessary referral, but there was no collaborative effort on his part to share his experience with his peers so that jointly, they may come to some sort of understanding/fix.

I also think about the prosthetics research VA performs. Many of the national advances in prosthetics are done jointly with industry, educational facilities and VA. When you move the veteran out to the general population, how does this work? Thinking about the veteran who is many miles from a VA, they may be also many more miles from a private prosthetics or orthotic vendor.

Currently, having veterans go to a VA, gives the various veterans organization a target to blame and praise, but when the private sector docs aren't performing, who champions the veteran then? At that point, we're just told find another doctor. How does that work for the rural veterans? I can tell you in our city of Fayetteville given there is no medical school, trying to find some specialties requires us to drive over an hour to find one in the Raleigh area.

I like that Congress is forcing VA to get care to veterans sooner, I'm just concerned that it's a slippery slope that could lead to the eventual closure of VA.