New VA secretary plans to allow veterans to seek ‘purchased care’ at other hospitals [View all]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/06/new-va-secretary-plans-to-allow-veterans-to-seek-purchased-care-at-other-hospitals/



New VA secretary plans to allow veterans to seek ‘purchased care’ at other hospitals
By Reuters
Friday, June 6, 2014 20:10 EDT

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – The acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs said on Friday the agency is putting out bids for “purchased care” that would allow veterans to be treated at other hospitals at the VA’s expense while cutting backlogs at its facilities.

“In far too many instances, in far too many locations, we have let our veterans down,” Sloan Gibson told reporters after a tour of the sprawling Audie Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio. VA hospitals and clinics will be open during non-traditional hours to expand coverage, said Gibson, who was appointed acting secretary of the department on May 30.

U.S. lawmakers engaged in bipartisan talks this week to address delays in the delivery of health care for military veterans. The talks came after former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned in late May amid a scandal over widespread schemes to mask care delays and protect staff bonus awards and salary increases.

“We have lost an awful lot of trust, and we have work to do to earn it back,” Gibson said. “With veterans, we will do that one veteran at a time.”

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“We have lost an awful lot of trust, and we have work to do to earn it back,”....

You are correct Mr. Gibson. There are three fundamental problems you must address when trying to fix the VA:

1. Political will
2. $$$$
3. Republicans

Political will: Both parties must step up to the table and vote to support our veterans. We have fought your wars and killed (y)our 'enemies'. And we have gotten fucked up in the process. Congresscritters must understand if you fuck over enough veterans long enough, it will bite you in the ass. We need to start phoning our 'representatives' and voting our conscience in every election.

$$$$: We're spending $5.6 billion dollars on a destroyer and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans? We're spending over $400 billion dollars for a not-ready-for-prime-time F-35 and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans? We're building a new aircraft carrier that will cost over $16 billion dollars and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans?. Virginia-class submarines cost $7 billion dollars and you can't find a measly $20 or $30 billion dollars to take care of veterans?

Republicans: Nuff said.