Shulkin Was Acting As Bulwark Against Privatization Efforts — So What Does That Mean Now That He’s Gone?
Whether to privatize care for veterans has become a hot-button topic, especially since billionaire conservative brothers Charles and David Koch turned their attention to the cause. Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin earned the esteem of veterans' groups for fighting against that tide, but with a new secretary poised to take over, the future is unclear.
The New York Times:
Veterans Affairs Shake-Up Stirs New Fears Of Privatized Care
President Trump’s dismissal of David J. Shulkin, the secretary of veterans affairs — and the nomination of a man with no known policy views to take his place — has brought renewed focus to an increasingly contentious debate over whether to give veterans the option of using the benefits they earned through military service to see private doctors rather than going to government hospitals and clinics. (Fandos, 3/29)
Politico:
White House: 'No One Is Talking About Privatizing The VA'
President Donald Trump said Thursday he fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin because he wanted to give veterans more choices, but a spokesperson said his actions did not signal a desire to privatize veterans' health services. "No one is talking about privatizing the VA," deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said in an email. She also told pool reporters Thursday that the selection of Dr. Ronny Jackson, the White House doctor, to be Shulkin's replacement was not an indication of a privatization plan. (Lima, 3/29)
Kaiser Health News:
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ VA Secretary Out, Privatization In?
David Shulkin, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, was fired Wednesday night by President Donald Trump. To replace him, Trump will nominate his White House physician, naval Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson. Shulkin, however, is not going quietly. He took to The New York Times op-ed page to claim he was pushed out by those who want to privatize VA health services for profit. (3/29)
