VA Can’t Keep Up With Veteran Demand For Health Services Without More Capacity: Secretary McDonald
Though the agency has completed 3.1 million more appointments and hired thousands of doctors and nurses, Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald says, "improved access means more demand," and that additional money is needed. In related news, health care and access to jobs rank as top concerns for veterans surveyed. And KHN reports on a group working to train future doctors on the unique medical challenges vets face.
The Washington Post:
VA Secretary Says: ‘We’ve Aggressively Increased Access To Care’ But Are Still Falling Behind
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said the government’s second-largest agency is serving millions more veterans faster after a scandal over fudged wait times for medical appointments, but he acknowledged that the sprawling health-care system is struggling to keep up. (Rein, 11/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Many Veterans Feel Short-Changed In Survey
Overhauling the VA became a major political topic last year after revelations of an appointment-scheduling scandal at VA hospitals led to the resignation of top VA officials, including then-Secretary Eric Shinseki. Congress passed a multi-billion-dollar emergency funding measure to help overcome problems at the VA. The department’s budget has more than doubled in the past decade, hitting $163.9 billion in 2015, but demand for services is expected to keep growing as troops from recent conflicts leave the service. (Kesling, 11/10)
Kaiser Health News:
It’s On The Test: New Questions Require Doctors To Learn About Military Medicine
Veterans Day is when America stops to thank those who have sacrificed to keep the country safe and free. This year, gratitude for their service includes a significant step to help keep them healthier. Most former servicemen and women (and their families) get their health care at civilian facilities, where only rarely do health professionals ask patients if they or close relatives have a military background. But not only do veterans suffer from a disproportionate share of ailments like post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injury, many who were in combat zones may also have been exposed to hazards such as the defoliant Agent Orange in Vietnam, or huge burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan that produced toxic fumes. (Rovner, 11/10)
