America’s veterans didn’t sign up for privatized health care

For years, pushing for the privatization of veterans’ health care has been a persistent and persistent mission among some politicians.Their latest effort would see legislation like the one recently introduced. Veterans Health Act of 2023 It is framed as a measure to increase options and improve access for veterans.

But these proposals mask a worrying reality. In fact, it supports the expansion of private, for-profit health care, an expensive approach that reduces access to specialized care for our nation’s heroes.

As president of the American Federation of Government Employees’ National Veterans Council, which represents more than 304,000 veteran workers nationwide, one-third of whom are veterans, I am committed to jeopardizing the integrity and effectiveness of veteran care. We are determined to oppose any effort to expose them.

Politicians cannot distract from the important goal of ensuring veterans have access to first-class health care across the country. It is not enough for our veterans to simply hear from legislators who supposedly support them. They are entitled to make genuine efforts in their well-being, reflecting our deep gratitude and dedication to honoring their service and sacrifice.

Soaring costs and significantly reduced accessibility, are some of the great dangers of civilian healthcare, especially for veterans in rural areas. Existing private, for-profit community care programs are already leading to fragmentation of care; Challenges arise in securing medical records from private healthcare providers, resulting in duplicate testing, resulting in a waste of money and resources.privatization erode veterans’ ability to maintain control over the quality of care they receive;because community care providers lack the expertise that VA providers have to meet the unique needs of veterans.

Many studies have consistently emphasized The Advantage of Veteran Care for Veterans compared to private facilities. Veterans not only express clear preferences for veterans; almost 90 percent They trust the care they are receiving, and VA facilities also demonstrate remarkable trust. Increasing veteran survival rates. Lawmakers should support legislation to expand access to care services that veterans already want in the name of profit.

The ongoing privatization drive also raises legitimate concerns that it could strain VA health care facilities, especially rural health care facilities. This can result in longer wait times and cause veterans to travel long distances to receive treatment. Privatization also carries significant risks of decreasing VA facility utilization, increasing costs per veteran, and ultimately potentially leading to closures and consolidation of VA medical facilities.

The Veterans Administration is rapidly approaching a critical point where nearly half of the care available to veterans is in short supply. Entrusted to a private organization, and these proposed bills are poised to further escalate this trend. Veterans Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonough announced to parliament Urgent concerns regarding the rapid growth and financially unsustainable expansion of private “community care” programs. Even he believes that legislation like the Veterans Health Act will move us further down this precarious path.

Instead of privatization, we need to modernize and expand the Veterans Administration so that it can reach its full potential as a primary health care system designed specifically for veterans. We must improve the quality and accessibility of care while ensuring that veterans receive specialized services tailored to their needs. Through these changes, we can show our appreciation for our veterans by providing a top-notch health care system that reflects our appreciation for them.

On behalf of my organization and the veterans we represent, I call on Congress to listen to veterans and VA personnel and reconsider support for legislation such as the Veterans Health Act. Masu. A profit-driven privatized VA risks putting economic profit above the well-being of the brave Americans who have served our country.

We must protect the integrity of veteran care. Our nation’s veterans deserve nothing less than extraordinary support through their service and sacrifice.

Alma L. Lee is president of the American Federation of Government Employees National Veterans Council, which represents 304,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees.