Bush, Veteran Affairs and the way forward
Rizwan Ghani
April 07, 2007
Bush, Veteran Affairs and the way forward
Thanks to people including Bob Woodruff ABC/CBS correspondent that Bush coughed up an apology to show his concerns for every shortcoming in veteran healthcare system including its quality.
Woodruff’s documentary may have momentarily spurred the administration into action but the veterans familiar with the history of (their) health cover since the days of Vietnam opine that a lot more needs to be done if the country expects to see its wounded heroes cared for properly on the long and arduous road to recovery strewn with many a bureaucratic potholes.
On such journeys there are more chances of losing patience by those suffering for wan of consistency and quality. In many instances this is exactly what happened when veterans were transferred from state of the art military health setups to local health setups their conditions regressed instead of progressing.
According to rough estimates VA needs some 150 billion dollars to cover health care expenses of war wounded and other allied costs. This is big money and that is one reason America heard an apology from Bush than a pledge for funds.
Without going into the constraints faced by the military setups, the observations about management of VA and personal in most cases hard experiences of the Iraqi veterans or for that matter the recommendations that the commission is set to present to improve the health care services of the veterans and other allied issues. In the mean while here is a way out that can be discussed and improved to develop a comprehensive health care system that can ensure quality health care to the veterans for any length of time and with minimum hassle.
Further to the chain of hospitals and health care system being run by the VA, American private Hospital Association (APHA) can also be incorporated to deliver the health care services to the veterans. Since, these hospitals have state of the art facilities therefore they can extend two fold benefits in early recovery: reduce pressure on tertiary level military hospital beds to accommodate incoming patients in need of emergency care; extend quality care in areas close to veterans hometowns, that in turn will have multiple advantages including reduction in allied logistics for the family especially those who have school going children and working spouses.
APHA reportedly extends free health care to members of Congress and Senate. Same is true for their families down to family servants. However, despite repeated efforts the association refused to extend same services to war veterans.
Free lifelong health care for war (wounded) veterans across United States by the private hospitals could be an ideal option but since that has already been rejected here is another option. APHA has some 5000 registered health institutions. VA and APHA can cobble a list of institutions that can cater to the health care and special needs of the veterans. After marrying this information with high density troop population areas list of such institutions be made public.
The earmarked institutions in turn can prepare to receive and cover the patients. A system can be developed that keeps private hospital informs about the vet admitted to a military setup basing on his or home address for advance necessary preparations before actual shifting of the patient to the private institution.
VA can allocate 50 percent payment from its budget after necessary vetting and approval by the local bill advocate to rule out corruption and financial drainage. VA, the veteran or private institution can however exercise their right to get the bill revalued. Or list of approved bill advocates can also be issued for all concerned. Veterans should be given bills with actual services rendered instead of bill summaries with codes for the procedure and services that are mostly over charged and often filled with profit errors.
For the remaining 50% amount commission can weigh the pros and cons of settling the left over amount through equivalent amount of tax exemption or other incentives including tax waivers to cut costs through import of cheap medicine and other equipment used for the veteran.
VA can however weigh the option of in bulk import of such supply and provide the same to the hospital instead of the cash payment. However, it is not easy to execute this kind of options but software on lines of pharmaceutical companies tagging demand and supply data can be helpful in tabulating exact requirement well in advance. This can be help save time to import or arrange the products that could mean difference in life and death.
The committee working to improve the VA can recommend options to the Congress and the White House to reimburse remaining 50% amount for rendered services by the private hospitals through matching tax exemption.
Britain is running a health care system for the veterans on the basis of anatomy not professional divide. Reportedly, it is the seriousness of the trauma and importance of human life that supersedes everything else.
There are no two opinions about the traditional generosity of the American public. And one doesn’t have to wait to play his or her role to make cardinal difference in lives of other people at critical times. And for the trauma victims it could well be a difference in life or death. Therefore, those who are blessed with money can and should extend help to veterans and their families. It can be in form of employment opportunity, emotional support or other social services. Charities can equally play their role on regular basis.
Finally, Woodruff did succeed to draw the attention towards health care and VA but then media has its own limitations especially in terms of maintaining the pressure. However, the committee has been formed and it is hoped that with similar contributions there is always hope for a comprehensive way forward to provide best available health care to veterans.
Rizwan Ghani
Thanks to people including Bob Woodruff ABC/CBS correspondent that Bush coughed up an apology to show his concerns for every shortcoming in veteran healthcare system including its quality.
Woodruff’s documentary may have momentarily spurred the administration into action but the veterans familiar with the history of (their) health cover since the days of Vietnam opine that a lot more needs to be done if the country expects to see its wounded heroes cared for properly on the long and arduous road to recovery strewn with many a bureaucratic potholes.
On such journeys there are more chances of losing patience by those suffering for wan of consistency and quality. In many instances this is exactly what happened when veterans were transferred from state of the art military health setups to local health setups their conditions regressed instead of progressing.
According to rough estimates VA needs some 150 billion dollars to cover health care expenses of war wounded and other allied costs. This is big money and that is one reason America heard an apology from Bush than a pledge for funds.
Without going into the constraints faced by the military setups, the observations about management of VA and personal in most cases hard experiences of the Iraqi veterans or for that matter the recommendations that the commission is set to present to improve the health care services of the veterans and other allied issues. In the mean while here is a way out that can be discussed and improved to develop a comprehensive health care system that can ensure quality health care to the veterans for any length of time and with minimum hassle.
Further to the chain of hospitals and health care system being run by the VA, American private Hospital Association (APHA) can also be incorporated to deliver the health care services to the veterans. Since, these hospitals have state of the art facilities therefore they can extend two fold benefits in early recovery: reduce pressure on tertiary level military hospital beds to accommodate incoming patients in need of emergency care; extend quality care in areas close to veterans hometowns, that in turn will have multiple advantages including reduction in allied logistics for the family especially those who have school going children and working spouses.
APHA reportedly extends free health care to members of Congress and Senate. Same is true for their families down to family servants. However, despite repeated efforts the association refused to extend same services to war veterans.
Free lifelong health care for war (wounded) veterans across United States by the private hospitals could be an ideal option but since that has already been rejected here is another option. APHA has some 5000 registered health institutions. VA and APHA can cobble a list of institutions that can cater to the health care and special needs of the veterans. After marrying this information with high density troop population areas list of such institutions be made public.
The earmarked institutions in turn can prepare to receive and cover the patients. A system can be developed that keeps private hospital informs about the vet admitted to a military setup basing on his or home address for advance necessary preparations before actual shifting of the patient to the private institution.
VA can allocate 50 percent payment from its budget after necessary vetting and approval by the local bill advocate to rule out corruption and financial drainage. VA, the veteran or private institution can however exercise their right to get the bill revalued. Or list of approved bill advocates can also be issued for all concerned. Veterans should be given bills with actual services rendered instead of bill summaries with codes for the procedure and services that are mostly over charged and often filled with profit errors.
For the remaining 50% amount commission can weigh the pros and cons of settling the left over amount through equivalent amount of tax exemption or other incentives including tax waivers to cut costs through import of cheap medicine and other equipment used for the veteran.
VA can however weigh the option of in bulk import of such supply and provide the same to the hospital instead of the cash payment. However, it is not easy to execute this kind of options but software on lines of pharmaceutical companies tagging demand and supply data can be helpful in tabulating exact requirement well in advance. This can be help save time to import or arrange the products that could mean difference in life and death.
The committee working to improve the VA can recommend options to the Congress and the White House to reimburse remaining 50% amount for rendered services by the private hospitals through matching tax exemption.
Britain is running a health care system for the veterans on the basis of anatomy not professional divide. Reportedly, it is the seriousness of the trauma and importance of human life that supersedes everything else.
There are no two opinions about the traditional generosity of the American public. And one doesn’t have to wait to play his or her role to make cardinal difference in lives of other people at critical times. And for the trauma victims it could well be a difference in life or death. Therefore, those who are blessed with money can and should extend help to veterans and their families. It can be in form of employment opportunity, emotional support or other social services. Charities can equally play their role on regular basis.
Finally, Woodruff did succeed to draw the attention towards health care and VA but then media has its own limitations especially in terms of maintaining the pressure. However, the committee has been formed and it is hoped that with similar contributions there is always hope for a comprehensive way forward to provide best available health care to veterans.
Rizwan Ghani
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