Converting Veterans Administration Health Care to Private Sector Won't Work
Now that the furor over the scheduling fiasco at some of the Veterans Administration Health Centers has become tepid this article reviews problems in the V.A. which would not be ameliorated by the private sector, as suggested by some legislators. Fact-There were inordinate delays in patient care at some Veteran�s Health Centers Myth-Treating Veterans in the private sector would improve their care The V.A. has an unusual patient mix, which includes severe combat injuries as well as an aging population of older veterans with chronic disease and often, low incomes. First of all, with the exception of major urban trauma centers, most U.S. hospitals are not ready to treat combat injuries, especially in the mental health and social support areas. Secondarily, the private sector health system in the United States is driven by finance and reimbursement decisions which do not target serving the chronically ill and low income patients. Though the nation now provides health insurance to most of i...