Scrap the entire VA and start over. Give Vets healthcare credit cards till you can get it right.

2014-05-28T18:12:13-04:00

The system is corrupt and irreparable. It needs to be completely rethought and redone.
1,700 not even on the list? Why? For salary increases and bonuses from fabricating low wait times? Throw them under the jail!
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/28/politics/phoenix-va-hospital/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Report: 1,700 vets not on Phoenix VA wait list - CNNPolitics.com

Review of Phoenix VA hospital IDs 1,700 veterans seeking care who were not on existing waiting lists, new report says.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 6:43 PM

2014-05-28T18:43:23-04:00

I support outsourcing the care and I don't see it as being much different as being on Tricare prime remote. There is not a post near by I go to a civilian provider and the military pays. The VA is back logged let vets see civilians and the VA pays...how is this bad?

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 28 at 2014 7:08 PM

2014-05-28T19:08:18-04:00

The VA Medical system should be privatized. So should many other federal programs (Post Office comes to mind immediately). Each day we find out that there are more and deeper SYSTEMIC problems... that means it's the entire system and not just isolated to a few locations. How can we expect to change an entire culture of corruption? (ok, now I'm thinking this last statement could apply to Congress as well!) I have to believe that privatization would be more cost effective in the long run AND provide better care to our Veterans.
End rant. Thanks for listening.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2014 8:43 PM

2014-05-28T20:43:36-04:00

The VA is like each state's dept of motor vehicles - it's a big honking white elephant in the middle of the room. Everyone knows its there, knows its a broken and has been broken for years but no one will do anything about it. Everyone blames the problems on over-administration, under funding, the wind on a rainy Tuesday morning, anything and any excuse but still nothing gets fixed. Right now you'd think we have the best possible chance of getting things fixed with a former Army chief of staff at the helm - and still nothing. Time to start fresh - unless of course they scrap it all and leave vets at the mercy of obama-care.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 9:16 PM

2014-05-28T21:16:58-04:00

The healthcare cards are a good idea but somehow it would get tied into Obamacare. Next thing you know Republicans would want to have hearings and then somehow the rollout of the cards will be flawed only causing another huge mess. The Secretary is going to have to resign fire those individuals who are in the thick of this mess and fire those whose records [evaluations] show sub-par performance. It's sad to say but the VA is going to be marginalized. Can't wait for the next election and watch each candidate's two minute response

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made May 28 at 2014 11:18 PM

2014-05-28T23:18:07-04:00

The system is not a failure, but leadership has failed. Find the problems and Correct it. ASAP.

Response by MAJ Samuel Weber made May 28 at 2014 11:39 PM

2014-05-28T23:39:44-04:00

Fix what we have. As the Surgeon General has stated "We must move from a healthcare system to a System of Health."

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made May 28 at 2014 11:51 PM

2014-05-28T23:51:58-04:00

I think it needs to be seriously overhauled. I am not sure one can scrap an entire bureaucracy and start over. I agree there needs to be a criminal investigation, people died because of someone else gross negligence and greed.

The problem wont be solved by starting over when the same people who have allowed this are still in charge. I think the problem with the VA goes much higher than the VA leadership. Until the administration in charge starts holding people accountable, a new VA will have the same old problems.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made May 29 at 2014 12:23 AM

2014-05-29T00:23:40-04:00

I'd rather see the current secretary leave, and bring in someone who has experience managing an HMO out of the private sector. I was never a fan of the current VA Secretary, but you have to give the next secretary the power to remove people who can't or won't do the job.

I'd issue a stop loss for medical personnel and have them work in the VA system until things are straightened out. Even bring in college medical students to learn and get hands on experience to at the very least reduce the work load and get things sorted.

I'd also give veterans access to private sector medical care while all this is getting started out, I wouldn't issue credit cards because I fear the politicians will screw up the solutions by putting limits on the spending.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 29 at 2014 12:24 AM

2014-05-29T00:24:56-04:00

Privatize it, outsource it, completely revamp VA, definitely give me CIVILIAN HEALTH CARE OPTIONS, VA MEDICAL CARE COMPLETE FAILURE!! I can personally give them good credit for Rehab services (Alcohol/Drug Treatment, Domiciliary/Homeless Vet programs are quite excellent).
As a Disabled Veteran through the VA, I am effectively forced to use only the VA system at this time. Due to the severe abuses by the masses concerning Pain Management/Pain medication alone, many of us veterans with legitimate and well documented diagnoses warranting pain medication have been either cut off or treated as dirty drug addicts :( Because of this issue, I personally have been forced to pay out of pocket in civilian sector for this treatment, which costs me over $600 month! That is $200 for a 10 minute office visit and close to $400 for a COMMON and GENERIC Pain medication from WalMart Pharmacy! Get insurance you say? Who the frak is going to issue me insurance with prior medical history, military related, of PTSD and the lovely diagnoses of Opiate Addiction (thank you for that one VA, I wasn't depressed enough already :( I apologize for responding with this on RP, which I have enjoyed because I feel like I'm a part of something honorable again, but this is not a unique story at all. I wish I could suck up this pain, but I've tried everything else and I'm miserable without some kind of opiate medication relief....and FYI, I just left Phoenix area and I concur, that VA system was so (apology for rare curse word on this great site) Phoenix VA system was FUCKED! First hand experience from me to you....want to know how bad? Ask me, I'll share my story. Doc Hill, honorably discharged wounded warrior and now Dirty filthy drug-addict per PHOENIX VA!!!!

Response by SGT Timothy Byrd made May 29 at 2014 4:39 PM

2014-05-29T16:39:02-04:00

I say scrap the VA & start over but until things are fixed & running properly issue Medical credit cards so we can go get Proper care in the private sector.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 6:59 PM

2014-05-29T18:59:42-04:00

If there was a black or white answer it would be resolved. I think it's like a beer with to much foam, you can see it happening, you can wipe some of it up, suck some of it up and even use a napkin but no matter what you do it's gonna spill over, get all over your hands, the bartop and generally ruin your day. I think it's a beast that got itself to big for it's own infrastructure. You can't scrap it, you can't throw money to Vets (as much as I would love to do so), you got to put people into it that have passion, professionalism and the ability to work as a team. Tackle it from the inside out, chew it up and spit out the bad stuff....get someone who can give you a beer free of foam.

Response by SPC Floyd Knapp made Jul 21 at 2014 7:50 PM

2014-07-21T19:50:46-04:00

Scrap the entire VA, sell the hospitals and issue cards to Vets so they can get the help that they need. Vets will benefit and the country will save money to boot. We do not need all those people working for the Federal government, get rid of them!

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Jul 22 at 2014 11:06 AM

2014-07-22T11:06:04-04:00

Scrap the VA? Really? The VA is more than just Medical...Yes there are problems but they will get fixed. I am a proud Veteran and Patient of the VA and employee.

Response by SFC Michael Hunter made Jul 22 at 2014 4:30 PM

2014-07-22T16:30:48-04:00

I've been being seen by the VA in Pennsylvania since I retired and was referred to a surgeon about a month and half ago. Haven't heard from anyone until today when I was called and told another appointment I didn't know about was canceled because the doc had an emergency. When I asked about the other appointment they looked it up and told me it had been referred to a non-VA doctor. I told them nobody had contacted me. They transferred me to the person handling the case. Answering machine was what I got. Left my number. Still waiting for the call back. Mind you this is for surgery. A month and a half is a short wait time from what I understand. The system is broke and nobody is fixing it.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 3:11 PM

2014-07-23T15:11:12-04:00

Let the VA work it out but under severe scrutiny. As I type this I realize I sound like a Polly Anna. If they can't work it out then scrap it and start over. We've touched on this in other discussions but in order for effective change to happen within the VA there has to be a culture change. There is a poisonous culture a muck in the VA system and until that's eradicated, nothing effective can happen in my book.

Response by 1LT Kimberley Gorum made Jul 24 at 2014 2:09 PM

2014-07-24T14:09:47-04:00

Sorry if I am in the minority, but I work at the VA, the najority of the problems are in one area, it can and WILL be fixed

Response by SGT Steven Vance made Jul 24 at 2014 7:38 PM

2014-07-24T19:38:00-04:00

There is no perfect health care system. I work at the Portland, OR VA and am a vet. First, I'd like to thank you for wanting to put me and my hard-working coworkers in the unemployment line. Our families thank you, too. Second, not all VA hospitals are as problematic as Phoenix. Portland VA is an award-winning hospital, one of the best both in the VA system, and in the greater Portland metro. Third, having worked for several years with the largest element dependent on the system, the Vietnam vets, I am extremely skeptical how many of them will go elsewhere if the rules suddenly change. Its all we can do, sometimes, to get many of these people to seek care at the VA in a timely manner. Change the rules in a sudden, massive way, and many will fall through the (really large) cracks that will open up. That is no better a solution. Also, you better make sure the rest of the nation's healthcare systems are ready for such a large influx of new patients. It is extremely unlikely they are. Patients of many other healthcare plans already complain of long wait times for specialty care. It would only get worse. Give the VA a little time to fix the problems.

Response by PV2 Louise De Simone made Aug 12 at 2014 5:32 AM

2014-08-12T05:32:50-04:00

only corrupt Koch brother corrupt politicians say this since we as Vets cant find anybody who will take our med care!!!!

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Mar 21 at 2015 5:54 PM

2015-03-21T17:54:08-04:00

Everyone wants to create insurance programs ie tricare, obamacare and Medicare. However, the problem with the whole healthcare system is a shortage of providers and all the insurance and government programs can't fix that. We must encourage more people to enter the medical profession, because the increased number of patients due to the baby boomers becoming seniors, then we complicate the whole thing by involving ourselves in a prolonged conflict with no way for the system to handle the increase in wounded veterans. I don't proport to know the answer, but a new insurance scheme won't fix it

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 31 at 2015 6:14 PM

2015-03-31T18:14:13-04:00

As much as I would love to say to scrap the VA as a whole, I cannot in good faith say that.

There are aspects of the system that work correctly, and aspects that don't.

As an example, the Education portion is pretty efficient.

The Health Care portion is "bogged down" though.

Were it up to me? The Health Card aspect makes "some" sense, but we still need to account for Disability Payments, etc.