Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

See the following -

Alaska a Model for National VA

Senator Mark Begich | Fairbanks Daily News | June 29, 2014

I was disgusted in February when Republicans killed a bill that, among other provisions, would have opened more than two dozen new VA medical facilities to help a health system overburdened by the influx of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan...The terrible headlines of recent weeks tell us just how much we need those facilities, and why more resources are needed. Perhaps this time the full Senate will step up and vote to improve the VA system.

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Gibson: VA Pursuing Schedule Fix On Multiple Tracks

Adam Mazmanian | FCW | July 16, 2014

There are 11 known defects in the scheduling system,  part of the VistA health record system, and those "are being patched as we speak," Gibson told members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on July 16. In addition, the VA is developing four new interfaces to make it easier for schedulers to access the system, and to give veterans the ability to access their own appointments data through the VA...

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How VA Outsourcing Hurts Veterans

On Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, announced that he had reached a compromise with John McCain and other Senate Republicans on how to fix whatever it is that needs fixing at the VA...the bill also contains one provision that is a significant concession to Republican enemies of government. If enacted, it would lower the quality of health care received by veterans while setting back the movement for health care delivery system reform generally.

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Secretary McDonald Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun: VA is critical to medicine and vets

Press Release | US Department of Veterans Affairs | October 24, 2014

During preparation for my confirmation as secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), I was repeatedly asked, "Why doesn't VA just hand out vouchers allowing veterans to get care wherever they want?" For a department recovering from serious issues involving health care access and scheduling of appointments, that was a legitimate question. After nine weeks at VA, travel to 31 VA facilities in 15 cities, discussions with hundreds of veterans and VA clinicians, meetings with 75 Members of Congress, two hearings before the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs committees and dozens of meetings with Veterans Service Organizations and other stakeholders, I can answer that question. Veterans need VA, and many more Americans benefit from VA. Read More »