VA Healthcare: America's best-kept secret

[shireen]

I'm watching Dean on Countdown interview an author who wrote a book about how well the VA Healthcare system works. This author, Philip Longman (Best Care Anywhere), was given an assignment by Money Magazine to find the best healthcare system. To his surprise, it turned out to be the VA Health System; costs are even falling while maintaining high quality medical treatment!

I want to see the Blue Dog idiots explain why this system should not be adopted for the Single Option.
You can catch this remarkable interview at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#32194714

Veterans, i'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

[sutz12]

1. Although it's not my primary care, I use the VA for some things...

I've always been treated well.

Hell, I took my brother (he's a Vietnam vet. I'm not) down to Seattle VA a few months back for pneumonia. We got there at around 2:00 am. They treated him and put him in a room overnight for observation.

I'd recommend the Seattle VA hospital to anyone.

Conservative critics can bite me.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Yep. There are already 2 government healthcare plans (VA, Medicare) - Any others?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. I think it depends where you are.

I wasn't at all happy with the care I received. I can still go there for free health care and free meds, I haven't been in over 12 years. I would rather pay for the quality care I get from my doctor.

David

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Here is another veterans experience.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6171239

[DollyM]

5. Our VA hospital is terrible! Was under investigation due to deaths.

Too many deaths in too short of a period of time for common procedures at Marion (Illinois)VA and it went under investigation. Surgeries were suspended, Doctors were fired, one who had his license suspended in another state but went on to work for VA, and major changes in administration there. I wrote letters for years to my representatives about the lack of quality care at VA and just got "patted on the head" and basically told to go away. Then all hell broke loose at the VA and they had all kinds of representatives and congressmen interested in our VA. I think they can be good but without oversight, they can become corrupt and greedy with patient care getting the short end of the stick. I learned to go with my husband to his VA doctor visits as they would jerk him around and not order the tests he needed or the prescriptions he needed in order to save money. He nearly lost his foot due to a diabetes related infection that they would not treat with proper (expensive) antibiotics or letting him see a specialist.

[sammytko]

6. VA care in San Antonio is very good, nt

[hobbit709]

7. Haven't had any problems with my care

Either here in Austin at the outpatient clinic or in Temple. Recently developed an infection on my leg from diabetes complications. Showed up at the walk-in here in Austin at 7:30AM, was treated and spent more time waiting for the pharmacy to open at 8:30 than I did to see a doctor. Two years ago my BIPAP machine died-which I had gotten when I still had regular health insurance. I called them and told them my situation and they saw me that afternoon after I had gotten the sleep study paperwork from where I had done the original. They promptly set me up with a new machine that day, then scheduled me for a new sleep study later that month to keep all their paperwork straight
My doctor here is great and the staff is always helpful and courteous.
I get my eyes looked at in Temple by the specialist for the diabetic retinopathy damage in my right eye and never a problem there either.

[Oregone]

8. "incrementalism" would be opening it up to other groups or expanding medicare

Incremantalism as individually mandating private insurance is a joke. The US already has socialized health insurance (centrist) and socialized health care (leftist). A reform that will increase the growth of private insurers is on the right, and a step backwards in the BIG picture.