Misty Said:

Does the VA Practice good Medicine in Your Opinion?

We Answered:

As a Service-Incurred Disabled Veteran, I do make use of the VA medical system and have done so for years. During the latter part of the Reagan/Bush and the entire Bush/Quayle years, services were cut, short-cuts were used for supplies, and an attempt to privatize was quietly begun...but the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) got wind, especially after Bush Sr. attempted to eliminate our cost-of-living increase in order to give "Most Favored Nation" status to China---we all sent PROTEST postcards to the White House and Congress on that deal! Under President Clinton and now under the Obama administration (and the Democrats), funding has been INCREASED substantially, many of the services that had been outsourced to civilian facilities (like dental or surgery) by Bush/Cheney and the Republicans were RETURNED to the VA facility, and staff was increased as well.

Both General Shinseki and Tammy Duckworth are amazing...they have upgraded services considerably. For more details, see whitehouse.gov. As to "Obamacare" being a "lot like VA medicine" I'd say not yet...there is no public option as the president and many Democrats had wanted because of all the billions of lobbyist dollars poured into the GOP to BLOCK that option (and into Liberman's coffers as well). This may be added later if Democrats stay in control.

I'd rate the services at present time as a four-and-a-half stars or occasionally a five. My medications, if needed, are distributed without cost to me (as a Service-Connected vet), and they are indeed dispensed by licensed Pharmacists. I'm happy overall with the care that I receive, especially now that the Democrats have BLOCKED the Republicans' intentions and efforts to privatize (and RUIN) this benefit.