Yep. Them soshulized medicines be da pits. Long waits. Poor treatment. Simple messages. Not what Real Amurc'ns want fer thier childr'ns.... Dontcha know....
So... why are we seeing daily Associated Press attacks aimed at V.H.A. ??? Again, its simple.
The V.H.A. system is single-payer + minimal co-pays and costs 1/3 to 1/2 as much as private health care on a procedure-by-procedure basis. Drugs are negotiated in bulk quantities, so they cost far less than 1/2 per pill. V.H.A. doctors are well off, but they're not your Trump-lookalike, multiple-homed multimillionaires.
The overall quality of care at V.H.A. is the same as for private hospitals. But clearly, A.P. and Corporate Media including NY Times are carrying water for the interests and V.H.A.-ophobes. Here's the worst for out-of-context blither:
"Our veterans pay the price with fewer doctors, longer waiting times and more restricted access for the six million veterans using V.A. health care."
In fact, Dem Representative Bob Filner's bill allows the House to pre-date passage of the annual V.H.A. budget. Filner wants to fix Congress.
Despite that headline and the rude quote, there's nothing inherently wrong with V.H.A. medicine. More Below The Fold :::
The headline and the quote misrepresent the story.
MSM propagandists know that most newspaper readers skim headlines, reading what interests them.
"Budget Adjustment Would Improve Veterans Health Care" -- not exactly the message that helps the HMO/pharma/AMA party line.
The (Filner) bill, which has been a major lobbying priority of veterans’ organizations in Washington, would allow Congress to appropriate funds for health care programs one year in advance.
Officials say that for 19 of the last 22 years, the department’s budget has been approved late, usually because of fiscal wrangling on Capitol Hill. As a result, veterans’ groups and officials say, the directors of veterans’ health care centers and clinics have often been unable to proceed on time with new services, staff expansions or renovations.
There's nothing wrong, here, with V.H.A. Nothing that V.H.A. can control, anyway.
In testimony before the House veterans committee in March, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said: "The care our veterans receive should never be hindered by budget delays. I share the president’s concern as well as his support for advance appropriations as a way to provide uninterrupted care."
This problem is with Congress. 19 years of screw-up, out of 22 years. That's Congress for you. Where its not Medicare and they can screw up, things happen. Rep. Filner (D) wants good government -- his bill enables it.
BTW: you never see similar delays with Medicare. Elderly voters would kick any critter out of office, that delayed Medicare coverage.
So beware propaganda.
Long waits. Poor treatment. Propaganda.
Headlines do not a story tell. I'm biased, obviously....
I'm alive because the V.H.A. does first-rate work. Better than the hurry-up-get-a-form-done medicine you see with the private systems. V.H.A. can take time and do multiple surgeries where a problem is difficult. And they sent me across the country to get specialized care. I paid the ticket, getting there, of course.
They got me to the best guy in their system.
You gonna get that with private for-profit operations ??? Tell me about it. My bet, there's no role for profit-making in health care. Same as police, military, or the fire department. Profit always has a temptation for greed.