Congress May Fix VA Hospitals By Merging Them With Military

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Fantastic topic.

I've been saying this for a long time. Unfortunately it may be to late when all is said and done. Military Hospitals are currently in a fight to keep the doors open with congress who are planning to military medicine completely and have it all go civilian. which is a massive failure of an idea.

Instead my recommendation to people whole listen to me rant would be to take veterans and roll them over into a hospital's footprint of care, even open satellite clinics around hospitals (like we do in the army with TMCs) remodel tricare to a reasonably affordable plans based on SM income with free coverage for homeless.

I push it a step further and want to see care of veterans maintained by the active branch by mandating that veterans wishing to utilize this VA system must opt back in to fall under Feres Doctrine to align with the health care system. If they choose not to then they must seek care elsewhere unfortunately. This would allow us to continue to use 68W's 68C and various other MOS in the capacity that we do to handle the increased work load throughout.

another step further would be a major recruitment push for the military on medical MOSs to fill in the holes made from a major overhaul of all DOD providers/nursers/lpns that "work" for us. I'm sickened almost daily by the level of apathy that can be found by some of these civilian workers in a hospital while treating other veterans. Yes we have great ones, but also very bad and it's a challenge to try and toss one out.

That's just my personal opinion though on how to make a positive change.

I would maybe support this with more info and stats on over all performance,I do have a question on site availability.Will current facilities be moved or consolidated to big cities or bases?If yes why would I give up my 35min drive round trip to drive all the way to Scott Air Force or south to FT.Campbell your talking well over 2oo mile round trip for a routine check up.Another question,treatment of active duty,verses veterans and retired?Another question,would this program be tied to the military budget,and if so would it be subject to sequestration?Thank You

I do believe I was the first to suggest this on RP. Love the idea. There are many fine military hospitals and medical staff serving in the armed forces. Opening their doors to veterans would not only benefit them, but also help "exercise" these resources so they are better prepared for war.