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Politics : Proof that John Kerry is Unfit for Command -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: denizen48 who wrote (7687)	9/5/2004 8:04:54 AM
From: unclewest	Respond to of 27181

don't extrapolate your case to all veterans. Our healthcare sucks. The recurring problem I continue to see is that those who write the most about Vets healthcare understand it the least. The VA hospitals are important even though they are the smallest part of the military healthcare system. An increasing number of Vets and their families are now cared for in military clinics, military hospitals, military medical centers, and in civilian hospitals under the CHAMPUS/Tricare program. These programs had been greatly hacked and chopped under Clinton. They have been greatly expanded each of the past 4 years. As these programs expand, they take customers away from the VA. It is also important to point out that the VA has been building massive new medical centers. The need to replace some of the very old decrepit hospitals with modern facilities was part of the expansion justification. Did you not know that or did you forget to mention them? The VA system has a bit of a hump right now because the demos in Congress finally allowed a bill to pass this year authorizing concurrent receipt of VA disability pay. Tens of thousands (or more) of Vets have specifically requested VA physicals to determine their eligibility for a monthly VA check. It is a hump that will be worked off. In the meantime Vets needing real medical care are getting it. Priority in the VA system is based on need and service. Those with urgent medical needs are seen first. After that those with Purple Hearts and service connected disabilities get priority...but all Vets needing medical care get medical care. I am one of them and I find the current level of care outstanding and far better that in past years. uw