Should the correct action to fix the VA medical system be to have them fall under military guidance and control?

2016-06-06T09:31:36-04:00

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 9:33 AM

2016-06-06T09:33:26-04:00

I do not believe so. They are a separate entity and congress needs to adequately fund our VA system.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 6 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-06-06T10:05:07-04:00

Unfortunately, the issue with shifting it back to military control is that the DoD doesn't care about anything except "Operations."

For the VA, Healthcare is "Operations." For the DoD, Healthcare is "Administrative BS that distracts from Operations." It might be "Necessary Admin BS, but it's still Admin."

Due to this philosophical outlook, the military will NEVER provide the level of care that is required.

There are two major roots to the issue with VA healthcare:

1) We don't actually maintain good records of injury while in service. This is NOT a knock on our Military Healthcare Administrators. This is a product of our people. They can't write down what they don't know about. No one on this site has a complete Medical Record, because----

2) We don't go to Medical unless forced or Getting out. This makes it insanely difficult to prove that Injuries, Conditions (et al) happened to us while we were in. The "Change your socks, Drink more water, Have some Motrin" mindset (false as it is) has permeated the Force to the point where we actively don't seek preventable or preemptive care.

How can we expect the VA to "fix" things that are "undocumented" when they have their hands tied Legislatively. They have to play by the rules of the bureaucracy.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made Jun 6 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-06-06T10:29:42-04:00

No.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 6 at 2016 10:42 AM

2016-06-06T10:42:45-04:00

Oh gee. Lay a huge mission on an organization that struggles enough already. For medical, I'd be more into a "no copay" free (similar to TriCare) scheme for the things that are service related. The VA should then take a look at what's left for specialty center services. Prosthetics, PTSD, Chem, etc. Problem would be distances but I'd like to see some more analysis on that.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 6 at 2016 10:50 AM

2016-06-06T10:50:13-04:00

If one takes the time to research the origins of the VA and the variety of benefits provided, it's easy to see where we jumped off the rails. The expansion to include anyone and every illness in their charter over the years has resulted in the huge bloated bureaucracy that can't manage any of them effectively. The issue with the military having control is that the budget varies year to year and that can not be tolerated for the masses of veterans who can not get into the VA now in a timely fashion.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Jun 6 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-06-06T10:59:00-04:00

Absolutely not! The DOD should be focused on military operations, not on providing care for Veterans. I do not want my health care or Veteran's benefits placed on a priority list under military operations. Have you seen how every year the DOD goes to Congress and tries to get permission to cut military benefits like medical care, raises, BAH, etc? How would you like the DOD to be able to have that sort of control over your Veteran's benefits? I don't think so. If it were not for Congress preventing the DOD from screwing military members, retirees would have no medical care, and new troops would have no pensions. the care of Vets should NEVER be secondary to the next fighter jet contract!