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The controversy swirls the mass shootings of 1,000 Veterans Affairs employees last week, but the far greater threat to veteran health care is completely unaware. The powerful leaders of Congress have quietly revealed their plans to disrupt va-driven care, wrapped in a false title.”Veterans Access Act. “If veterans don’t act fast, they lose the VA health care system they know and rely on.
The bill looks harmless enough, with a desire for accountability. But don’t be fooled. Hidden in the depths of a time bomb is a provision intended to dismantle the integrated VA healthcare system faster than “privatization.”
Here’s the Trojan sneak attack: In response to the struggle against addiction and mental health challenges faced by many veterans, the bill will allow free access to outpatient private care without VA approval or referral. No questions. There are no guardrails at all. VA simply pays invoices from limited Coffers. That’s Phase 1.
Then, three years later, the arrangement aims to include all healthcare and fundamentally changes the main role of the VA to writing checks from healthcare providers to insurance companies.
Bleeding from the VA to the private sector, follow the money. A possible outcome is that the VA will shut down inpatient services and instead will be a variety of outpatient clinics. If that sounds familiar, it’s a plan laid out in Project 2025 Playbook. Veterans are aware that the VA facilities they rely on are not affected. Don’t buy it for a moment.
Do you think this prediction is exaggeration? Think about it again. Independent healthcare professionals I warned Last year, if Runaway Community Care spending (a VA-funded term for private health care) (an increase of 15-20% per year) does not slow, the survival of the VA system is at risk. This bill hits gasoline pedals.
When VAs turn into insurance agencies and cut direct care, veterans will be forced to find that there is a long-standing shortage of primary, mental health, hospitalized patients and emergency care providers. Half of US countiesand 80% of local countiesthere is also a shortage of single psychiatrists. Nearly 200 rural hospitals have been closed, with over 700 more – a third of all rural hospitals in the country – The edge of collapse. Who will treat our veterans accurately in this healthcare desert?
Furthermore, a complete absence in Access Act is the recognition that VAs need to expand their workforce rather than shrink. The shortage of personnel was a concern before the new administration took office due to almost the influx. Newly registered 400,000 agreement law– Eligible veterans are becoming increasingly urgent. Without adding a significant number of healthcare workers, VAs will need to cut down on the services veterans rely on.
Want to know more that can follow the explosion of community care costs? As Congress is not in the mood to significantly increase the VA’s budget, there is no choice but to reduce who is eligible for care. That’s exactly what it is Blueprints Spelled by the Project 2025 Heritage Foundation – Eliminating healthcare benefits across veteran cohorts.
Many veterans deeply appreciate the convenience of being referred to community care near their home. But here’s the kicker. They have not been said about the impact of this plan’s crushing of VA essentially converting it into an insurance company. If they know, they will never put up with it.
Recent Statement by Veterans of Foreign Wars, American veteran with disabilities and American Legion It demonstrated overwhelming support from its members to ensure that the VA remains a leading healthcare provider and coordinator in veteran care. Previous VFW Report Involving 10,000 members found that 92% explicitly prefer the VA to be “undismantled and fixed.”
It is betrayal to place ideology before veteran welfare. Veterans have earned the rights to a finely coordinated, integrated network of professional providers who have treated millions of physical and psychological veteran-specific injuries through service and sacrifice. This is a groundbreaking study of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and burn exposure, and countless former services that allow you to see healthcare teams in one location under one roof, in one location It is a system that supports members.
Veterans, talk now before it’s too late. Contact members of Congress and let them know what you are thinking about bills that will hinder the VA Healthcare system.
-Russell B. Lemle is a senior policy analyst at the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute. His recent Military.com article was announced.”Congress should support partnerships between the VA and firearms industry to prevent suicide among veterans. ”
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