Re: VA Q&A

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addition to the Q&A Laura sent, here's what she said in her topper at the Nevada vets event in late June: Later as a Senator on the Armed Services Committee, I worked very hard to help our vets and our military families in the era of Iraq and Afghanistan, working especially on traumatic brain injury, predatory lending, expanding healthcare to National Guard and reserves, and much else. So I'm looking to see where we are today in our minds, what you see happening. So I want to ask you, and when sit down, what will it take to transform the VA to make it work for our veterans today and in the future? What happened in Phoenix and elsewhere is absolutely unacceptable, period. And we need to know from the vets what will fix the problems that we have on -- (cheers/applause). And I don't care where you live, no vet should have to wait in line for weeks or months to get the care you earned with your service. (Cheers/applause.) Not in cities like Reno, or Las Vegas, not in small towns, not in Indian country, our priority should be transforming the VA so that it serves all our veterans and gives them access to state of the art care, whether it's for cancer or prosthetics or mental health. We have learned that privatization and outsourcing is not a magic solution for anything, let alone when it comes to the unique obligations we have to our vets. So I do oppose blanket privatization proposals because sometimes it seems as though the people pushing them don't understand the needs of vets. But I do believe choice should be part of the solution. And if we let the VA work more with communities while preserving what it does best, serving veterans and their unique needs, perhaps we can get better care faster to more vets. We also have to make sure that the VA is equipped to serve the needs of an increasing diverse community, including women like you. (Cheers/applause.) And it wasn't a problem when my father was in the Navy and now we need to deal with our vets who they are, every person who is willing to sign up to serve America. And because it's so important to this generation of veterans we have to expand and strengthen access to the VA's world class expertise on PTSD and traumatic brain injury, and prosthetics. Most of private medicine does not have the expertise in those three areas. I'm very proud of the pioneering work that our military and VA medical experts have done, but it's not reaching enough people and it's not as available as it should be for everyone who needs it. And let's make sure that veterans, especially our younger veterans, have access to mental health services. The number of veterans of all ages who commit suicide every year is heartbreaking. Now I am really encouraged that this was the focus of one of the few real bipartisan pieces of legislation passed by Congress. But, that's just the start of what has to be a major ongoing effort that involves not just the VA but entire communities. I have to tell you that part of what I've learned in my campaign so far is how important two issues are and it's not just about vets, it's about everybody, but today I'm focused on vets, substance abuse and untreated mental health problems. (Applause.) I believe it is way past time that we understand mental health issues are medical issues. (Cheers/applause.) And we have to start treating that as we treat bodily problems, because after all that is what we are learning from genetics and research they are. When something happens to you in a traumatic situation that manifests itself in the way your body works and responds and the way you emotionally and psychologically respond. There should be no stigma to getting help. (Applause.) And I think the more we can say that to everyone the faster we will get more help to everyone. Milia Fisher (858) 395-1741 On Aug 19, 2015, at 11:16 AM, Milia Fisher <[email protected]> wrote: *Is this along the lines of what you're looking for? Can search for more if need be * *What would you do as President to fix the VA?* · We have an obligation to support our veterans when they come home, especially those who need health care for physical or mental health conditions that relate to their service. · The VA provides great care to veterans – and it has unique, world-class expertise in crucial areas like PTSD and TBI – but only once you get through the door. We need to do a much better job of making sure every veteran has access to timely, quality care. And we need accountability when we fail to deliver that. · The GOP candidates have talked a lot about how they would privatize the VA. Privatization is not the answer. Quality care for our veterans is the answer. *As part of that effort, should we give our veterans more choice – through an expanded voucher program or otherwise – about where they get treatment?* · Choice should be part of the solution, if it helps the VA work more with communities while preserving what it does best, continuing to develop unique expertise in areas like veterans’ mental health, and getting better care faster to more vets. · But choice does not mean privatization or outsourcing, which are not a magic solution for anything, let alone when it comes to the unique obligation we have to our veterans. Privatization proposals that would chop up the VA, like the ones we’re hearing from Republican candidates, would not be good for ourveterans or their families. *Can the VA – or any federal agency – run a health care system? Wouldn’t this be better left to the private sector to do? Why can’t the VA just buy veterans a health insurance card and let them go see their doctor?* · Government has an important role to play in health care for veterans. · The VA serves many of these roles as health care provider, innovator on things like the electronic health record, training grounds for the nation’s doctors and nurses, and sponsor of research on diseases such as PTSD and prosthetics care. · Outsourcing veterans care to the private sector will not solve the problems of access or quality; the private sector struggles with those issues too. We must instead build a better system of care for veterans that integrates community resources, VA resources, and private sector resources, to provide timely care to veterans where they live, and gives them the best outcomes possible. Milia Fisher (858) 395-1741