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Fix VA Care

By Thomas Manthe

Despite a 40+ year relationship with the VA Health Care System, like many vets I had high hopes for the new "Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act" of 2014. In hindsight I suppose we all should have known better.

The new law offers little choice or access to rural vets with a VA Clinic located within 40 miles. A VA employee has already admitted quite frankly that it's just another layer of bureaucracy, and I must agree.

These satellite clinics the VA created some years back to serve rural vets, along with the new law, and its 40 mile rules and 30 day scheduling mandates, allegedly designed to provide better access are both huge disappointments. They are a waste of tax dollars, and remain a hindrance to both access and choice.

In my own case, to receive actual care from a VAMC means traveling 3 hours, one way, for a 30-45 minute appointment, maybe grab something to eat, then traveling the 3 hour return. Its an all day event for many rural vets.

By who's definition can this be considered accessible or providing a choice?

And if you happen to have a disability? Traveling alone can be physically, mentally and logistically a challenge at best and prohibitive at worse.

Is there any other segment of our citizenry that is discriminated against in this way? Vets deserve the same health care accessibility and choice as those who enact these laws, at least if we are to believe their rhetoric.

Solution: close the VA satellite clinics. I can get flu shots or blood drawn at the local hospital, where they already send us for X-Rays. Just let vets see their own LOCAL doctors if they choose to. Those selected agencies could waive their fees and/or get tax write offs for serving vets. What? Too simple? Complex systems generally serve the top, and are designed to hide money and corruption (think TAX CODE).

I'm a Milwaukee Native, first introduced to VVAW while still wearing a uniform, by other service members when serving together with the 101st. I'm a Vietnam era vet, service connected for a TBI (known as head trauma back in 1972) and other related injuries. My wife and I were quite active in VVAW Milwaukee for a while during the 70's and the early 80's.

Current health care is inaccessible, neglected, offering little choice due to distant travel. Thus care remains denied by the VA in my opinion. Service Connected Mental Health, Chronic Pain, Imbalance/stability issues all require the 3 hour, one way, ALL DAY event. I'm currently overdue for a colonoscopy, could really use a new pair of glasses. This care either gets addressed locally or it ain't happening.

Thomas Manthe is a member of VVAW from Wisconsin.