Stop VA Privatization, Fix, Fund & Fully Staff the VA Print
Commentary
Written by Buzz Davis, Army Veteran & Activist   
Wednesday, 19 September 2018 10:07

veterans_army_medicVeterans report many are falling for the Washington politician lies that the VA is not being privatized.


TUCSON, AZ - Do you know that approximately 40% of the of the 104 million VA outpatient appointments are now being conducted in the private sector via the Choice & Community Care programs? That’s right! Only 60% of all the veterans served are being cared for in VA hospitals & clinics. Before Congress passed the Choice Act in 2014 about 22% of outpatient appointments were done in the private sector

veteran-olderThe VA “Completed Appointments” vs Private Sector
Appts. (Community Care+Choice) Rates Are:
Percent of Outpatient Appts by Fiscal Year (FY)

FY14 70.8 m total appts. 22% in pvt. sector & 78% in VA

FY15 79.7 m appts. 30% in pvt. sec. & 70% in VA

FY16 89.2 m 35% in pvt. sec. & 65% in VA

FY17 103.7 m 40% in pvt. sec. & 60% in VA

You see the trends, right? How soon will they begin closing hospitals & clinics due to not enough patients?

Well, some Veterans Service Organizations have fallen for the lies that the VA is not being privatized we are just helping veterans get better care faster.

VSO's in New Mexico have not fallen for the lies.

Below is a report from Veterans for Peace member Charles R. Powell on the New Mexico resolution.

On Thursday September 13, the United Veterans Council of New Mexico passed a resolution against the privatization of the Veterans Administration medical services.

The UVC is a non-profit coalition of more than 30 chartered and federally recognized veterans service organizations and affiliates established in 2007. They strive to provide a forum for the free exchange of information between veterans organizations, state agencies and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The council President is Ken O'Keefe, the website is <uvcnm.org>.

The resolution was introduced by the delegate from The Donald & Sally-Alice Thompson Chapter 63 of Veterans For Peace of Albuquerque and was approved without opposition.

RESOLUTION AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF THE VETERANS ADMINSTRATION

Whereas, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the VA cost for private care would be 10% higher than the payment rates for Medicare and the Physicians for a National Health Program states the medical costs at the VA are 20% lower than Medicare rates, therefore costs for private care might be 30% higher than the same care provided by the VA, and

Whereas, the RAND Corporation's decade of research found that VA provided care is equal to or better quality than private sector care in all forty-seven quality-of-care measurements comparing VA outpatient care with comparable civilian facilities, and

Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs is better equipped than most community providers to coordinate complex physical and mental healthcare for combat veterans, and

Whereas, a bipartisan survey by Lake Research and Chesapeake Beach Consulting 80 percent of veterans polled oppose turning VA health care into a system of private sector vouchers inadequate to cover costs;

Therefore Be It Resolved that United Veterans Council of New Mexico…

1.   Supports policies that provide necessary resources to serve veterans by maintaining a robust Federal Government Veterans Health Administration;

2.   Supports policies that would create integrated health care networks for veterans with the Veterans Health Administration, serving as the coordinator and primary provider of care when and where needed as determined by the VA medical staff to ensure timely and convenient access for all enrolled veterans.

3.   Opposes privatization of medical and psychological care for our Veterans.

-- Charles R. Powell

Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 September 2018 10:23