Obama: 'I Haven't Fixed the VA Problem'

[Eaglewings]

If Obama really cared about our veterans he would fix the problem. Isn't he president? Regean has a democrat rule in both houses and got things done. You admitting Obama isn't a real leader is entertaining though.

Obama's comment above seems to me like he is going to do something with or without the help of congress.
But even then people will bitch about his actions.

Then why hasn't he done it yet? In the first couple of years he had everything. He could've done something, like he did with obamacare. He despises our great soldier's. This proves it and also shows he isn't a leader.

I have a feeling in Obama's last year he is going to do a lot for the Vets, even if it means to without the help of congress.

 

[DGS49]

The "problems" with the VA are, ultimately, nobody's fault.

The biggest gripe about the VA is the long time it takes to get an appointment with a doctor/specialist. The VA employs a staff of full-time doctors, and has an "army" of local doctors, mainly specialists, who are willing to work for the VA as their time allows. THIS RESOURCE - the time and skills of the VA's doctors - IS A LIMITED RESOURCE.

Coupled with this limited resource, we have an explosion of Vietnam and older Vets who are now turning to the VA after a lifetime of using other resources, coupled with literally millions of Iraq and Afghanistan vets who are coming into the VA system, and expecting timely, expert care. And who's to say they are not entitled to that care?

But the VA cannot create new resources to meet this exploding need. Since the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, no doctor can be compelled to work for the VA, either on a part-time or full-time basis.

So if a Vet needs an appointment with, say, a urologist (in great demand due to the aging Boomer Vets), the next available appointment might be a year off, or longer. Maybe the solution is to allow the Vet to go to any available doctor in his area, and just have the VA pay the bill, but such a change would INVITE fraud and waste, wouldn't it? And again, the doctors themselves could not be compelled to take those VA patients, knowing that payment will likely be (a) limited in amount, and (b) a long time coming, and (c) preceded by a paperwork nightmare for the doctor.

This situation is not Barry's fault; if there is a fault, it probably leans toward Congress for not anticipating this situation and dealing with it. But again, there's that Thirteenth Amendment thing: No doctor (or anybody else) can be compelled by law to treat VA patients.

And the broader point is: HEALTHCARE IS NOT NOW, AND CAN NEVER BE, A RIGHT (unless the Government directly employs sufficient doctors to treat everyone who is entitled to treatment).

 

[jknowgood]

If Obama really cared about our veterans he would fix the problem. Isn't he president? Regean has a democrat rule in both houses and got things done. You admitting Obama isn't a real leader is entertaining though.

Obama's comment above seems to me like he is going to do something with or without the help of congress.
But even then people will bitch about his actions.

Then why hasn't he done it yet? In the first couple of years he had everything. He could've done something, like he did with obamacare. He despises our great soldier's. This proves it and also shows he isn't a leader.

I have a feeling in Obama's last year he is going to do a lot for the Vets, even if it means to without the help of congress.

I hope so, but I doubt it.

 

[BlindBoo]

Damn, how did we get so many wounded vets to take care of in the first place?

Cheney's war and the millions killed or hurt.

Partly. You also have to include advances in battlefield medical technology which saves the lives of many soldiers who would have died in previous conflicts.

 

[BlindBoo]

Obama has tried to work with the Congress who try their best to make him look like a failed president...
The actions of the congress trickle down to the threads like these for the people with selective memories.

On Tuesday, President Obama threatened to veto the Republican bill, “The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 2029, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes. The bill fails to fully fund critical priorities, including veterans’ medical care and military and VA construction.
Republicans didn’t just take away a little bit of funding from veterans. The Republican funding bill is $1 billion short of what the VA needs in order to be able to provide care and services to the nation’s veterans. Since taking control of the House, Republicans have tried to cut veterans’ benefits on a nearly yearly basis. In 2012, House Republicans tried to cut benefits while privatizing healthcare. In 2013, House Republicans tried tocut food assistance for 170,000 vets and their families. In 2014,Senate Republicans blocked a veterans’ benefits bill.


Obama Stands Up For Veterans By Vowing To Veto GOP Bill That Cut Benefits For 70,000 Vets

If Obama really cared about our veterans he would fix the problem. Isn't he president? Regean has a democrat rule in both houses and got things done. You admitting Obama isn't a real leader is entertaining though.

Because Raygun had a Congress that was willing to compromise. Something the current Republican Congress has not been willing to do.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Obama has tried to work with the Congress who try their best to make him look like a failed president...
The actions of the congress trickle down to the threads like these for the people with selective memories.

On Tuesday, President Obama threatened to veto the Republican bill, “The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 2029, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes. The bill fails to fully fund critical priorities, including veterans’ medical care and military and VA construction.
Republicans didn’t just take away a little bit of funding from veterans. The Republican funding bill is $1 billion short of what the VA needs in order to be able to provide care and services to the nation’s veterans. Since taking control of the House, Republicans have tried to cut veterans’ benefits on a nearly yearly basis. In 2012, House Republicans tried to cut benefits while privatizing healthcare. In 2013, House Republicans tried tocut food assistance for 170,000 vets and their families. In 2014,Senate Republicans blocked a veterans’ benefits bill.


Obama Stands Up For Veterans By Vowing To Veto GOP Bill That Cut Benefits For 70,000 Vets

Obama has tried to work with the Congress who try their best to make him look like a failed president...

Republicans are helped in this effort by the fact that Obama is a failed President.