Health care for veterans Unacceptable

[poppy]

Over 2,200 veterans died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance | Physicians for a National Health Program

A research team at Harvard Medical School estimates 2,266 U.S. military veterans under the age of 65 died last year because they lacked health insurance and thus had reduced access to care. That figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001.

We have to do better for these people who served us so well.

 

[MommaMia]

Not all veterans are served by VA facilities

Thanks, Poppy, for that link. Most people think military veterans are automatically covered by the VA. This comment from the Harvard study is telling:

"While many Americans believe that all veterans can get care from the VA, even combat veterans may not be able to obtain VA care, Woolhandler said. As a rule, VA facilities provide care for any veteran who is disabled by a condition connected to his or her military service and care for specific medical conditions acquired during military service.

"Woolhandler said veterans who pass a means test are eligible for care in VA facilities, but have lower priority status (Priority 5 or 7, depending upon income level). Veterans with higher incomes are classified in the lowest priority group and are not eligible for VA enrollment."

It's been my family's experience that VA Hospitals have long wait lists and are often many miles away from those who need the care--even if they are eligible.

 

[AlphaCrab]

Another heartfelt and telling story about the lives of our brave soldiers, in this case their final chapters--they do their job, many passionately and patriotically...then they are forgotten by the rest of us. Sad.

 

[Bob]

who knows, with never ending war, the vets will become a huge voting bloc.

 

[Lynnie]

It's "free." VA Hospitals have been investigated and under fire for at least as far back as I can remember. Still subpar care.

 

[poppy]

It's "free." VA Hospitals have been investigated and under fire for at least as far back as I can remember. Still subpar care.

Free to only a few and if you have insurance they will bill them.

By Federal law, eligibility for benefits is determined by a system of eight Priority Groups. Retirees from military service, veterans with service-connected injuries or conditions rated by VA, and Purple Heart recipients are within the higher priority groups.
Veterans without rated service-connected conditions may become eligible based on financial need, adjusted for local cost of living. Veterans who do not have service-connected disabilities totaling 50% or more may be subject to copayments for any care they received for nonservice-connected conditions.

I have friends who will go no where else for health care.

From "The Washington Monthly" 2005 - - -

Yet here's a curious fact that few conservatives or liberals know. Who do you think receives higher-quality health care. Medicare patients who are free to pick their own doctors and specialists? Or aging veterans stuck in those presumably filthy VA hospitals with their antiquated equipment, uncaring administrators, and incompetent staff? An answer came in 2003, when the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a study that compared veterans health facilities on 11 measures of quality with fee-for-service Medicare. On all 11 measures, the quality of care in veterans facilities proved to be "significantly better." Here's another curious fact. The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published a study that compared veterans health facilities with commercial managed-care systems in their treatment of diabetes patients. In seven out of seven measures of quality, the VA provided better care.

From "Economists View" 2006 - - -

For the sixth year in a row, VA hospitals last year scored higher than private facilities on the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index... Males 65 years and older receiving VA care had about a 40% lower risk of death than those enrolled in Medicare Advantage, whose care is provided through private health plans or HMOs... Harvard University just gave the VA its Innovations in American Government Award for the agency's work in computerizing patient records.
And all that was achieved at a relatively low cost. In the past 10 years, the number of veterans receiving treatment from the VA has more than doubled, from 2.5 million to 5.3 million, but the agency has cared for them with 10,000 fewer employees. The VA's cost per patient has remained steady during the past 10 years. The cost of private care has jumped about 40% in that same period.

Granted there are individual facilities that are subpar, but after President Clinton appointed Kenneth Kizer the VA's under secretary for health in 1994 the entire system was modernized and care greatly improved.

 

[Lynnie]

Free to only a few and if you have insurance they will bill them.






.

My point is that the 'free' to a few delivers subpar care and it really isn't 'free' at all. We should actually learn from this.

 

[poppy]

My point is that the 'free' to a few delivers subpar care and it really isn't 'free' at all. We should actually learn from this.

I guess I'm confused. I'm not sure what you mean by subpar. I used the VA years ago and have no complaints and two close friends, one is retired from both the Navy and the postal service and claims he receives better care from the VA than private hospitals and will go no where else. The other friend served four years in the Marines and begin using the VA right after his discharge. He is now very well off and can go wherever he wishes but continues to rave about the care he recieves form the VA doctors and staff. Maybe you had a bad experience, if so please don't judge all VA facilities on your experience with just one.

 

[Lynnie]

poppy, glad to hear you are a veteran receiving good health care.

I remember a spot on 60 min. when I was in jr. hs on how horrible VA Hospitals not only delivered medial care, but how they actually treated our Veterans - like lepers. Even Walter Reed has been investigated. There are also reports of inappropriate abuse of power of a Director.

Enjoy the reading. What branch did you serve? I salute you as a Veteran of the Armed Services of this Nation and thank you very much for your service. ;-)

Sen. Webb calls for investigation of vets hospital | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Internal VA Investigation: Spokane VA Medical Center Wasn't Aware of Many Veteran Suicides - Veterans For Common Sense

Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility - washingtonpost.com

Violations rife in hospital's studies on veterans - Washington Times

U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER AND ALL VETERANS' HEALTH CARE FACILITIES | Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Representing the 8th District of Arizona

VAOIG: 3 REPORTS FIND FAULT WITH VA HEALTH CARE -- Unreported abnormal chest X-ray, technician suturing a patient, and failure to diagnose a stroke among problems. - VA Watchdog dot Org - 09-19-2009

Adler: VA hospital needs investigation | John Adler for Congress

VA physician fired after investigation

OpEdNews - Diary: Dept of Veterans Affairs Investigation Nails Hospital Director

And, there are many, many more. If my Daddy were still living, there are only a handful of VA Hospitals we would allow administration of his care. Otherwise, we would seek private medical care.

 

[poppy]

poppy, glad to hear you are a veteran receiving good health care.

I remember a spot on 60 min. when I was in jr. hs on how horrible VA Hospitals not only delivered medial care, but how they actually treated our Veterans - like lepers. Even Walter Reed has been investigated. There are also reports of inappropriate abuse of power of a Director.

Enjoy the reading. What branch did you serve? I salute you as a Veteran of the Armed Services of this Nation and thank you very much for your service. ;-)

Sen. Webb calls for investigation of vets hospital | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Internal VA Investigation: Spokane VA Medical Center Wasn't Aware of Many Veteran Suicides - Veterans For Common Sense

Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility - washingtonpost.com

Violations rife in hospital's studies on veterans - Washington Times

U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER AND ALL VETERANS' HEALTH CARE FACILITIES | Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Representing the 8th District of Arizona

VAOIG: 3 REPORTS FIND FAULT WITH VA HEALTH CARE -- Unreported abnormal chest X-ray, technician suturing a patient, and failure to diagnose a stroke among problems. - VA Watchdog dot Org - 09-19-2009

Adler: VA hospital needs investigation | John Adler for Congress

VA physician fired after investigation

OpEdNews - Diary: Dept of Veterans Affairs Investigation Nails Hospital Director

And, there are many, many more. If my Daddy were still living, there are only a handful of VA Hospitals we would allow administration of his care. Otherwise, we would seek private medical care.

I guess I could post hundreds of links to subpar care at private hospitals also but what is the use. I believe overall the VA has dedicated doctors and staff who give excellent care to to our veterans while at the same time I acknowledge there are problems at some locations.
IMHO I believe it is unfair to use a broad brush to paint a picture of the VA failing to give quality care.