Is the VA a Good Model for Health-Care Reform?

Progressive health-care advocates often tout the Veterans Administration health-care system as a model for reform. But is it really as great as its boosters claim? Ray Nothstine takes a closer look at the VA and finds a system that's far from perfect:

The VA manages the largest U.S. health care system, with more than 1,400 medical facilities. It's true that veterans treated at VA hospitals generally receive quality care. Yet this fact overlooks major drawbacks, such as backlogged claims, rationing of treatment, and waiting periods for appointments.

Those who have service-related disabilities are the VA's primary responsibility. Plans have been made to expand care to veterans who meet income qualifications. Yet cost and rationing are already problems in the VA. Expansion will aggravate rather than mitigate these difficulties.

In an interview, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss) described the problem of using the VA as a model for a bigger public plan. "We [government] can't pay for the promises we've already made on health care," he said, "and it only gets worse for the next fifty years."

Read the whole thing here.