Veterans Affairs pays $142 million in bonuses amid scandals

[Vync]

I thought that it was 50%, not 30%, to get "free" treatment for anything at the VA...

[USMC_VET]

I thought that it was 50%, not 30%, to get "free" treatment for anything at the VA...

dont know why i thought it was 30%?????

your right, 50%, POW or catastrophically disabled.

 

Still stands that they would pay the same amount to offer everyone with 10% or more as it is to maintain/build new facilities as well as operate the hospitals and staff

[Vync]

USMC,
I completely agree with you.

Based on your number crunching, how would it compare with this potential plan?
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/veterans-administration-reforms

I'm not trying to promote any candidate, but I personally like this because it seems to do what the Choice Card plan should have done from the start.

[Chuck75]

The basic problem with the VA and outside medical care has to do with the bureaucratic mentality and penchant for total control.

When you add the money spent in house vs. paying outside preference to the mix, you begin to see what has gone on.

After watching Trump's antics for years, I'll not say that he is right or wrong, but rather that I don't trust him to do what he says.

 

The only really workable partial solution that I see involves Medicare, and the VA paying co-pay and out of pockets up front, particularly for such things as "urgent care".

I see no real reason why a veteran eligible for VA care, and needed prompt care for an emerging or worsening medical problem should have to wait any longer than

anyone else to obtain that care, and pay again for it. To me, forcing the veteran to do so, regardless of the reason, is a form of malpractice, as well as a breach of contract..

 

I also believe that the modern requirements for the "ground pounder" are extreme, based upon the amount of gear carried, the environment, and so forth.

This will most likely result in more veterans with multiple debilitating conditions down the road as they age.  War always has a price, now or later.

It used to be said that the "20 and out" was a direct result of the conditions of military service, with "just worn out" as part of the many reasons.

(Ignoring the old saw about "cannon fodder" and age!)

[Vync]

I know what you mean Chuck. I guess he is saying the right things, which is much more than what we have seen or heard in the past.

[broncovet]

The VA squanders tens of billions of dollars every year.  There is no doubt that "private industry" can/does do a better job providing health care in most cases than does the VA.    The reason this happens is an economic principal called "economies of scale".  This principal says that a small "mom and pop" company gradually INCREASES its efficiency until it reaches a certain point.  Its easy to see that a small company gets more efficient as it grows..it can buy more stuff at a time, in bulk, and save money.  A larger firm can also save money because it can hire specialists, such as accountants, rather than have the owner do it who may not know that much about accounting and may make mistakes.  

However, as a firm continues to grow, it reaches a "peak" and then, with more employees it actually gets less efficient.   It simply gets too large to manage and there is waste, and, well, its like the VA is now.  

The federal government is simply too large to manage health care well, and much smaller companies do it better.  Has it ever occurred to anyone why politicians dont use VAMC care?  Its because private care is superior.    Many/most of us use VAMC care, not becaue its the best in town, but because its all we can afford.   I would much rather use private health care.  I could see it becoming voluntary, that is, the choice program is expanded and Vets choose.  There is not much doubt that would eventually lead to shutting down many of the VAMC's especially the very poor ones.