From the office of Congressman Andy Harris:
Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., a Navy veteran and physician who worked in both the military and veteran health systems, has written and released a white paper that outlines his innovative proposal to provide veterans with health care outside of the broken Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Under the Harris plan, veterans would be able to opt out of the VA Health System entirely, and instead get care through a private health insurance plan, the Veterans’ Choice Plan—a plan comparable to what federal employees are provided through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
“Veterans who want to continue to get care through the VHA should be able to do so; those who don’t should be provided private insurance just like federal employees have,” explained Rep. Harris. “The Veterans’ Choice Plan would allow them to see any doctor they want, go to hospitals that are close to home, and receive care from top professionals.”
Congressman Harris will send the reform plan to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for its review later this week.
“Our veterans put their lives on the line for our nation; they at least deserve access to the same health care services as those who work at the VHA,” added Rep. Harris.
The full text of the white paper can be found here:
Giving Veterans a Choice Outside of the Veterans Health Administration
Proposed by Congressman Andy Harris, M.D.
Key Point:
Veterans should have the option to get a health care plan that is as good as the health care plans for VA employees taking care of them.
Background:
The falsification of records by VA employees in places like Phoenix to cover up long wait times shows the fundamental flaws with the current structure of the Veterans Health Administration. There have already been 23 veteran deaths directly linked to delays in VHA care, and delays in treatment have been a factor in more than 100 deaths at VHA centers since 2001. While outrage is appropriately focused on those who falsified records to cover up long wait times, the fundamental problems that led to long wait times in the first place must also be addressed.
In rural parts of the country, like the Eastern Shore of Maryland, which is in my district, veterans often have no choice but to drive several hours to a full-service VHA-run hospital, or to see a physician specialist. This is in stark contrast to all other Americans with health insurance who can go to physicians and hospitals just up the street or in the next town over. The current system is fundamentally flawed, and without giving veterans another choice, the problems will only continue.
Recommendations to allow veterans only to be seen in the private health sector on an ad hoc basis are not good enough solutions.
Reforming the System to Give Veterans a Choice:
· Veterans will be able to opt out of the VA Health system entirely, and instead get care through a private health insurance plan, called the Veterans’ Choice Plan. Eligibility for veterans will be phased in gradually, beginning with new enrollees and “priority group 1” veterans.
· Veterans eligible for Veterans’ Choice will be able to choose any plan offered in their areas through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
· The federal government will cover the entire cost of the premium. Currently, federal employees have to pay, on average, about 28 percent of the total cost of the premium, but for veterans the government will pay up to the entire premium, depending on their priority ranking.
· For priority group 1 and low-income veterans who may not be able to afford co-pays, the federal government will offer a system to cover those costs as well.
· The Office of Management and Budget will create a system similar to the one current federal employees use to sign up for the plan of their choice—and ensure veterans have access to it.
Costs:
The VHA served 5.6 million patients in 2012, and according to the Wall Street Journal, the VA spent $7,297 per patient that year. A standard Blue Cross Blue Shield nationwide plan offered through the FEHBP costs $7,397, including both the government subsidy and the portion individuals usually pay. Transitioning to FEHBP for those veterans who choose that option would likely be budget-neutral at worst, and possibly even reduce veteran health expenditures.
Finally, someone with the sense to put it forward! I am all for this!
How dare you suggest letting the free market fix it. Lmao
I am all for letting the veteran go outside the VA, at this time. I think Andy Harris is jumping on the band wagon and trying to get votes. He has done nothing but put out press release after press release on dribble. I commend him for his military service and hope that veterans around the US are abll to get the care they need. We serve our country and defend the freedoms of this great nation. I think it is a shame that a four star (retired) general is at the helm of this national tragedy and refuses to quit. I think he is putting his interest above the interest of veterans. He has had all this time to fix it and now he is claiming to be doing something. Where was he in the past? Wasn’t he the same general, who was forced out as chief of staff and brought the black beret to the US Army. You see how that went. I for one, am ashamed that everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and offering bills and outrage that this is happening. WHERE WERE THEY WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON………So Andy, I voted for you last time and am wavering on voting for you again. BUT if you take the lead and try and fix this mess, I would consider voting for you again. I know you are a Dr and now is the time to use your medical knowledge and congressional experience to FIX THE PROBLEM.
I don’t believe the numbers in the “costs” paragraph at the end.
Having multiple options (because of the economy of scale AND the multiple administrators) will definitely increase the cost to the tax payers.
Instead of changing the system, just fix it!
fixing this mess would be a great idea, but not by another gummint wonk. Nothing that the gommint does makes things better! If it did we would all be lining up for public housing. The VA has been in trouble since the Kennedy days. Everybody knew it and nobody did a thing. Now that political futures may be in jeopardy, they all want to jump. Could it also be that the veterans have established social network links and are sharing a desire to see changes, not just in the VA but in the entire mess we call the US government? You will see us coming out in record numbers this year, and ALL incumbents need to be afraid, except Dutch Ruppersbeerger. He has a lock on his seat and can continue to occupy a seat just for his own self gratification.
with respect to The 4 star in charge; He is doing what all military lkeaders have done and will do. He had a staff, which met regularly. He told them what he wanted done and they reported back from their respective areas. UInfortunately The good general forgot that the average civil servant can not be trusted to tell the truth. Doubly so in DC! They were undoubtedly blowing sunshine up his ass for the last 4 years.
Sounds expensive, Andy. Are you no longer playing the game that has the US as bankrupt and incapable of doing much of anything other than maintaining the status quo?
Oh, I see, you are relying on the Wall Street Journal, rather than the Congressional Budget Office for your statistics on costs. Why don’t you wait and see what the professionals in your employ have to say before spouting off on any proposed changes?
I’am all for changing the VA health system, I chose medicare over VA health care
Vet; That’s what all of us who can get away from the VA have done.
Arturro: Did not want to make VA issue’s public. Been there & done that.
So a for-profit private business will be cheaper and more efficient than non-profit healthcare system like the VA is, not buying it.
Of course you’re not buying it. You, like so many, nanny-state folks, think that the government can do everything better and cheaper than the private sector. They can, if they run two sets of books. They can, if any lie they tell is acceptable. Look to government subsidized housing. If your argument for government controlled stuff were the least bit factual, then everybody would try to get into government housing. The cold cruel fact is that the government is really good at killing people as well as killing incentive. Anything else that they try is one abysmal failure after another. Of course fifity percent of the people are below average so don’t understand.
There is No ”Money” to be saved. We get the same Specialist you would get at University Hospital contracted to Va. Perry Point has no Specialist’s. so it’s a free ride to Baltimore if & when your not ” Dead” to get and appointment.
All my Medicine is ”Free” one of the freebie’s of a 100 % percent Disability, For a country that does not give a Damn if you live or die !
This is probably the most productive thing I’ve seen Harris do during his entire tenure. Which is not saying much, because I do not think that the private health care industry is going to be able to provide these services at prices lower than the VA, for the insurer anyway, which in this case is the US Govt.
And I am sure that if we take the time to look closely, Mr. Harris receives generous donations from companies and people who would stand to gain considerably from having a huge chunk of the market dropped on them. And in the absence of those donations, we can probably find that Mr. Harris has considerable investments in such companies, where he would stand to gain himself over the long term.
Another day at the office in Congress. For more info read the book “Throw them all Out”.