In order to fix the VA crisis, would it help to hire Veterans and make VA centers 24-hrs?

2016-04-03T20:57:30-04:00

Over the last few years the VA system has been plagued with negative attention in terms of healthcare provided to vets. I think hiring vets to assist and making ALL VA centers 24-hrs will help reduce backlogs, ignored patients, and expedite claims. This would also benefit in terms of jobs to help reduce the unemployment rate and disenfranchised vets and communities.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Apr 3 at 2016 9:01 PM

2016-04-03T21:01:47-04:00

WoW! That is an intriguing plan of action. I would hope that someone higher up than my rank would look at this plan and implement this. This would benefit the guys who so desperately need behavioral health help.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 3 at 2016 9:05 PM

2016-04-03T21:05:16-04:00

It would be an interesting thought - 24hr service. Wonder how it would pan out?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 9:27 PM

2016-04-03T21:27:34-04:00

If I'm not mistaken the 1-800 crisis/suicide hotline is manned 24/7. It may be just my area, but I do know for a fact it has been used at 0200 in the morning for a Soldier, and the Soldier was taken care of at the VA within a matter of hrs of the phone call. No it wasn't me. Yes it was a Soldier of mine, and I actually drove him to the VA in the wee hours of the morning.

Again it may be the area I'm in??

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 9:48 PM

2016-04-03T21:48:20-04:00

Like just about everything, it comes down to money. The VA budget has grown around 70% since 2009 in an effort to keep up with the growing need for services. This year they got an increase as part of the two year budget deal that the WH and Congress agreed to. That deal allowed spending limits that exceeded the sequester mandatory limits. But already the Freedom Caucus of republicans have been telling Speaker Ryan that they will not vote for a budget for next year that exceeds the sequester limits. They said they don't care about the deal that was made, and want the sequester limits to be the maximum number, and actually want bigger cuts.

So this puts Ryan and the republicans in the same predicament that Speaker Boehner was before Ryan. The republicans want to follow the so called Hasert Rule, that says that the repubs won't allow a vote on any measure that a majority of repub reps won't vote for. So even though the higher budget would easily pass the house as a whole, with some repub and democrat votes, Ryan won't bring it to the floor unless he can get a majority of republicans alone. So that's how the Freedom Caucus (aka tea party) reps are able to control congress far beyond their actual numbers compared to the whole House. Unless Ryan is willing to confront the Tea Party repubs and pass a budget without them, there is little chance for any increases to the VA or defense budgets.

Response by SSG James Elmore made Apr 3 at 2016 10:11 PM

2016-04-03T22:11:30-04:00

I would imagine that there would be a ton of vets willing to spend a weekend manning the phones to talk to other vets in need!!!

Response by SFC Walter Williams, Jr. made Apr 4 at 2016 12:07 AM

2016-04-04T00:07:18-04:00

It sounds like a great idea. The only problem I see is what LTC Mathews pointed out with Congress. They will find away to screw things up. I would hate to see veterans get hired and then Congress turns around and say we have to shut the program down because of the budget. We have so many veterans that gave their time to serve in the military and the United States cannot even help them when their time is up. But guess what? Congress will turn right around and ask for a 10 percent raise (actual percentage unknow) and get it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2016 12:20 AM

2016-04-04T00:20:37-04:00

Yes the VA should be open 24 hours a day and hire more veterans. If I have a emergency have to go regular hospital or wait for a scheduled appt for months wait...needs to be a better system..

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Apr 4 at 2016 7:50 AM

2016-04-04T07:50:43-04:00

SFC Randy Purham This idea has significant merit. What about hiring temporary claims workers to get the "backlog" of Vets claims completed in conjunction with your idea? This could also add Social Workers to ensure that 24 hour a day placement for homeless Vets is available too. SFC Randy Purham We need Congressional support for your outstanding idea.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2016 8:50 AM

2016-04-04T08:50:05-04:00

I think so.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 4 at 2016 8:50 AM

2016-04-04T08:50:20-04:00

I love the idea, can someone answer all the questions Congress would have for this and send it to a slew of Congressmen?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2016 9:22 AM

2016-04-04T09:22:23-04:00

Superb suggestion Staff Sergeant. I faintly remember some years ago, where that suggestion was mentioned as a possibility. Just ONE of the many negative votes against such a brilliant idea, was ; ( ready ) Veterans would be " too close" to the applicant, thereby creating an atmosphere of favoritism which would look bad to the civilian population. ( knock off the laughter). The alternative was to continue with the status quo and hope some leaders would suddenly appear. Well guess what? Hundreds of veterans were getting out and looking for work. Anyone notice any legitimate moves to bolster the improvement on the backlog of applications? How many brothers out there who think it's a slap in the face of a veteran to read about a few improper activities involving doctors, executives, and specialists when it relates to proper care and treatment of our brothers.?example: 2 senior executives charged with fraud but allowed to return to work because they demonstrated remorse, or the administrative senior executive who was transferred from a northwestern pacific state to a hot and dry Rio Grande neighborhood and the transferee proceeded to vote a BONUS for all the hard work they had accomplished having been at the VA Medical Center about 3 months. When questioned about
"bonuses" regardless the quality of work, a response was, " We have to give bonuses to retain good executives" . With that caliber of accountability, our VETERANS shouldn't expect much improvement. Rock on Brothers.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Apr 4 at 2016 10:23 AM

2016-04-04T10:23:28-04:00

Just a few things I would like to add to this discussion.

We must remember there are two halves to the VA; the VAHS and the VAB. Both are plaque by backlogs and poor management. And while I agree that both should do their best to hire Veterans, this may not be the sole answer here. Some of the roles needed to truly speed up the processes must be filled by qualified personnel who are able to address the issues. Things like claims that cycle through the VAB can be taught but with such a backlog, sometimes that training may appear to get in the way of truly solving the issue. I also do not want to see Veterans made to work in roles that would put them in an underemployment situation. For a lot of us, we have skills that make us valuable assets with tremendous potential. This idea, while it looks good, may cause Veterans to find themselves in positions where their skills are not put towards the best efforts that the Veteran is capable of.

So do I have a better answer than what was mentioned here? Heck no. Is this is a good plan? If carried out correctly yes the plan could work. But I caution us to look at everything. As they say, sometimes the devil is in the details.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Apr 4 at 2016 10:41 AM

2016-04-04T10:41:24-04:00

Your issue runs much deeper than expanding care to 24 hours and staffing with vets. We are ill equipped to deal with the issues today's military faces. The cost is but one piece of the puzzle, but a large factor of how it works. The VA is a big entity with a lot of red tape- we need ot determine how to remove those barriers and how to "humanize" the system before we can fix the current problem. Putting new people into place does not change the system- you have to change both.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 1:10 PM

2016-04-06T13:10:47-04:00

YES and YES!!!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 12:31 PM

2016-04-07T12:31:03-04:00

This would work. If it's one thing veterans can do its 24hr duty and also adapt and be trained to do just about any job.