Serve Veterans by drastically scaling back VA Healthcare facilities and model a system based on DOD's MTFs and Tricare Standard and Prime.

2015-04-06T12:40:16-04:00

The problems with the VA Healthcare system are not fixable within the VA. We have three major government healthcare systems. It is time we radically scale back the oldest, least functional to support only those areas it does well like Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction, Prosthetics, etc. Other standard hospital clinics will be needed to compliment them but should be kept to a minimum.

Use the DOD medical record system as the foundation. Expand Tricare instead of Veteran's Choice. Private doctors are already familiar with it and it works. VA could waive or cover Tricare co-pays and deductibles based on service connection and disability rating. Express Scripts would give Veterans access to private pharmacies.

Lincoln's promise, "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan," was not for VA Healthcare. It was for Healthcare Period. Its time to look outside the VA to improve its healthcare and let the VA focus on monetary benefits (disability compensation, education, home loans).

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/5/veterans-health-records-lost-in-va-department-of-d/

Veterans’ health records lost in VA-Department of Defense divide

When former Marine Sgt. Chris Morey went to the VA for excruciating back pain and migraines, doctors said they couldn’t do anything for him because they had not received his deployment medical history from the military.

Response by CW4 Jeff Buss made Apr 6 at 2015 12:45 PM

2015-04-06T12:45:44-04:00

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27850918/ba-ed-angry-cost

Veterans baffled, angry Denver VA hospital conditions

Veterans explain why they need a new hospital in Colorado

Response by CW4 Jeff Buss made Apr 6 at 2015 12:47 PM

2015-04-06T12:47:53-04:00

http://ktar.com/48/1822380/VA-makes-little-headway-in-fight-to-shorten-waits