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Underfunded VA; Your Tax Cuts at Work
Topic Started: May 27 2005, 01:03 PM (799 Views)
gvok
Unregistered

source

Quote:
 
Underfunded VA

As the VFW Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas has commented:
"The DVA [Department of Veterans Affairs] has been chronically under-funded for decades, yet thousands of dedicated medical professionals see to it that millions of veterans receive high-quality DVA health care annually at 162 hospitals across the country." (link)

Currently, the VA (The Department of Veterans Affairs) is coping with increasing demand, both from new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan as also from veterans now relying on VA benefits because of the economic downturn. According to the OMB report:

"more veterans are seeking VA medical care services... This increased demand has put pressure on VA's ability to care for its core-mission veteran population (military disabled, lower income, and those with special needs such as spinal cord injuries)."

Although the overall VA budget (as well as discretionary spending for the VA) has gone up every year, budget increases are simply not keeping up with this increase in demand.

Early this year, changes at the VA as well as the Bush Administration's projected 2005 budget led to a storm of controversy. As the Washington Post reported in March, veterans groups have strongly criticized these new policies and the planned budget. As yet, the budget has not been introduced to Congress.

Here are some of the major issues that have concerned veterans groups.

Inadequate Increases in VA Health Care Budget

The VA's Under Secretary testified last year that the VA health care system needs a 13-14% increase annually to maintain the services they provide now. The Administration request of $27.4 billion for 2005 provided for an increase of about 1% over the last year, and fell $2.9 billion short of the amount recommended by veterans groups (including AMVETS, the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans) in their Independent Budget. (See the Administration and vets' groups budget numbers side-by-side here.) Following the Bush Administration's announcement, the House Committtee on Veteran's Affairs released a bipartisan plan calling for at least $2.5 billion more than the Administration proposal. On Feb. 4th, 2004, VA Secretary Anthony Principi admitted to a House Committee that he had asked for "1.2 billion more than I received." (link)

New Drug Co-Pays and Annual Fees

For veterans who are currently paying a small pharmacy co-pay (7$ per month per prescription), the co-pay would rise to $15. In addition, these vets would have to pay a $250 annual fee.

New Eligibility Requirements

As of January, 2004, the VA has also announced new rules that exclude hundreds of thousands of vets whose incomes are now considered too high to qualify for benefits. The income threshold depends on where a vet lives, but ranges between about $26,000 and $40,000 per year. The VA has not pushed any enrolled vets out of the system, but veterans who now wish to enroll will be subject to the new rules.

Hospital Closures

The VA is planning a number of hospital closures as part of a larger "restructuring" plan. Originally, the VA intended to close at least 7 hospitals, but outrage from veterans groups led to a revision of the plan by an independent commission. Now, only three hospitals are slated for closure, and two new hospitals are planned in Nevada and in Florida. However, some smaller clinics are also going to be closed or cut down. Some of these clinics are underserved. But other cutbacks, like those at the clinic in Saginaw, Michigan, have angered local politicians and veterans groups. Read the article in USA Today or the AP story for details of specific clinic closures.

What about next year?

There is some speculation that the already stretched VA may be up for cuts next year, according to White House documents released in May. These planned cuts were covered by CNN.

What should be done for the VA?

Mandatory Funding of Health Benefits: Currently, VA health benefits are part of the VA's discretionary spending.  This means that the federal government is not obliged to provide enough money for veterans' health benefits.  When the federal money is inadequate, the states are left with the bill.  Click here to see the funding gap in your state.  Making funding for health benefits mandatory would ensure that the VA's budget would always cover the demand. Bills have been introduced in both the House (H.R. 2318) and the Senate (S. 50) to make this possible.

Increased Funding: Click here to view the recommended Independent Budget proposed by AMVETS, the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans, and endorsed by 30 other groups, including Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and at least 15 medical organizations.

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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
This is really disheartening to hear that veterans are being dishonored in such a way.

Especially given that it's Memorial Day weekend, and that the people who are cutting the veteran benefits claim to be supporting the troops.

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gvok
Unregistered

They don't have any problem cashing their tax refund checks though.
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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
You know people can say what they like about Michael Moore, but something really struck me about Farenheit 9/11. At the very end he talks about what an amazing sacrifice our soliders make and how most of them come from lower incomes and put thier lives on the line to support the system where they came from and all they ask is that they don't put thier lives on the line unless its absolutely necessary.

I'm really disappointed in this administration for all thier patriotism and support for the military and the troops that they're cutting veterans benefits and closing bases while at the same time cutting taxes and deficit spending. Not to mention vital equipment is not being distributed in an efficient manner to protect them from harm.
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24thcenstfan
Member Avatar
Something Wicked This Fae Comes
I hope the fact that bases are being closed is a sign that the DOD is streamlining. Not in a negative way, but eliminating waste. I know we are talking about job loss where base closings are concerned, but when you don’t need the base you don’t need the base. Hopefully any local economies effected by these base closings will bounce back.

NC/SC got out pretty lucking with this round of cuts. There were some cuts, but for the most part NC/SC remains a vital launching point for our military.

Maybe, just maybe issues such as Veterans Benefits will be addressed in this reorganization.
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Hoss
Member Avatar
Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
Tax cuts have nothing to do with government funding for anything.
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gvok
Unregistered

How do you figure? Are you saying federal revenue has nothing to do with federal spending? It's thinking like that that has gotten this country into such terrible debt, don't you think?
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doctortobe
Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
Aren't you the one who said that cutting foreign aid would only be a drop in the bucket compared to the whole deficit? Well that same argument applies to the tax cuts.

Why don't you quit using veterens as a straw man for your blatant hatred of the administration? I also find it somewhat hypocritical that you berate others for cashing their refund cheques when you refuse to send yours back.

A weak attempt gvok.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Gvok,

I'm about ready to take your checks and send them in. ;)
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gvok
Unregistered

Quote:
 
I also find it somewhat hypocritical that you berate others for cashing their refund cheques when you refuse to send yours back.



I berate others for advocating an irrational tax policy, not for cashing their checks. There's a difference if you take the time to think about it. ;)
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Fesarius
Member Avatar
Admiral
Gvok,

I admire your position. I just don't believe it to be a tenable one.
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doctortobe
Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
Truth be told, if they could cut through all the paper pushers and beaurocracy, then the VA (and "Try to get Care") would easily be funded.

But then this whole thread is just a runaround. If Bill were to start this topic and blame Social Security costs for it, then I could safely assume that those who supported gvok's statement would then be blasting that argument.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Doc,

Very true. And the same could be said of me (not just the Admiral). We are all very deeply-rooted in our own convictions (based on many factors). To change one's position (more than peripherally) takes IMO something very significant to occur in one's life, I believe.
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Hoss
Member Avatar
Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
gvok
May 28 2005, 05:51 AM
How do you figure? Are you saying federal revenue has nothing to do with federal spending? It's thinking like that that has gotten this country into such terrible debt, don't you think?

How has lack of tax revenue in any way limited government spending and borrowing in recent history?

We don't have a tax revenue problem with have a congressional irresponsibility problem.
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gvok
Unregistered

38957
May 31 2005, 07:38 AM
gvok
May 28 2005, 05:51 AM
How do you figure?  Are you saying federal revenue has nothing to do with federal spending?  It's thinking like that that has gotten this country into such terrible debt, don't you think?

How has lack of tax revenue in any way limited government spending and borrowing in recent history?


The government cannot continue run deficits indefinitely. Eventually it will come back to bite us (our children actually).
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