McCain: VA should stop routine care, only combat wounds.

[SirNitram]

Link

[quote](SEDONA, ARIZ.) – The Veterans Administration should concentrate on treating soldiers with serious injuries and get out of the business of routine health care, John McCain said today.

“We have got to spend more effort and devote more time to the treatment of the battle wounds both seen and unseen,â€

[frigidmagi]

Sounds almost reasonable. What's the catch?

[LadyTevar]

90% of veterans get free or cheap medical care through the VA that they may otherwise not afford. Some VA hospitals also have hospice care for terminally ill veterans.

We see a lot of Death Certificates from WWII and Korean veterans through the 4 VA hospitals in the state.

[Derek Thunder]

To be perfectly honest this just seems like a gimme to hospitals and drug companies without any sort of price controls or oversight.

[frigidmagi]

% of veterans get free or cheap medical care through the VA that they may otherwise not afford.

I may be depending to much on McCain's humanity and loyality to fellow vets but...

McCain advocates giving each veteran a card that they can take to any doctor’s office, so the VA can concentrate on more serious, combat-related injuries, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Makes it sound like the VA or government at large would cover the cost, just have other docs do the treating.

[SirNitram]

Well, between trusting McCain to hold the same position more than 24 hours, and trusting his humanity and loyalty to vets after repeatedly attempting to kill the GI Bill.....

[Cpl Kendall]

Makes it sound like the VA or government at large would cover the cost, just have other docs do the treating.

I'm with you, this sounds like a take on the Canadian system: you get a shiny Vets card with Blue Cross on the top and you can use it to pay for services where ever you go. VAC picks up the tab.