Health Care Reform And Veterans – Part 2

Recent health care reform proposals have caused the public to evaluate the health care systems currently operated by the U.S. government, namely the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service. Recent investigations have revealed serious problems within the VHA system.

Earlier this year, the VHA was dealing with the scandal that unsanitary equipment used in procedures infected about 53 patients with either HIV or hepatitis B or C. See Part 1 Then, in June, it was reported that 92 veterans were given wrong radiation doses in a common procedure to treat prostate cancer. These veterans were treated at the VHA facility in Philadelphia.

These problems have caused people to question whether or not the VHA is showing signs of an institutional breakdown. There apparently has been little genuine oversight provided by the VHA and investigations into grave problems produced little improvement. Sadly, the Philadelphia tragedy was allowed to continue for six years.

Funding, of course, is always a problem for anything that is run by the government. Many people cite lack of proper funding as the reason for the decrease in quality health care in the VHA. However, the same thing can be said of the Indian Health Service, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.

And we want the government to run our whole health care system because…….?

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