Veterans’ health care in crosshairs of privatization forces

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.peoplesworld.org/veterans-health-care-in-crosshairs-of-privatization-forces/

<snip>

Vets' voices ignored

Veterans groups are outraged that while health industry CEOs are represented , veterans themselves have no voice on the commission. Indeed, not even one of the nation's veterans' service organizations is represented. "To deny veterans a voice...is an invitation...for continued mistrust between those who served in uniform and the government they swore with their live to defend, " Barnett said in a press statement on March 24.

Veterans' groups brought the issue to the attention of their members and the public in a joint statement April 1, warning of "decrease(d) access to high quality, comprehensive and truly veteran-centric care for millions of veterans, particularly those who were injured or made ill through their service."

The signers, who include the executive directors of eight veterans' service organizations such as the American Legion, VFW and Vietnam Veterans of America vowed to denounce any proposal to privatize the VA health care system, citing "the utter lack of consideration that veterans would want to improve and expand the VA health care system" rather than shut it down.

Real causes of waiting lines - 'a scandal of underfunding'

After years of inadequate funding and staffing, the shortcomings at the VA came to light as millions of young veterans were returning home from overseas, explained J. David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees which represents 113,000 VA workers.

<snip>

[tonyt53]

1. You bet it is. And it would be a damned mistake. The VA has ALWAYS been a mess.

It didn't just start now. I personally gave up on them years ago. It can be fixed though, but not with bandaids offered by Congress and certainly not by privatization.

[Starry Messenger]

2. I can sympathize, I work in public education.

Everyone and their dog is trying to get their hands on that tax money, I hope the VA is more successful than we were in staving that off.