Don't divert funds away from unique, essential VA health care
Since 2017, I have had the honor of working as a staff physician at the Jesse Brown Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Chicago. While over 70 percent of all physicians in the U.S. have spent some part of their training at a VA facility, this was my first opportunity to care for those who have borne the battle, to paraphrase the VA's motto. Over the two years, it has become increasingly clear to me that the VA is a special institution whose place in the landscape of health care in America is both unique and essential.
While the VA has come under scrutiny due to issues at several of its facilities, it is abundantly clear that the quality of care at the VA is excellent. Indeed, the VA has been an innovator in the development of evidence-based medicine, including efforts to reduce the cost of care, a major crisis across the health care industry. Its use of electronic medical records was trailblazing in health care. Furthermore, research conducted at the VA has transformed the treatment of numerous diseases. While recent controversies demand that we do better by veterans receiving care at troubled facilities, we must keep in mind the tremendous public service performed by VA facilities.
As the second largest cabinet department, the VA is often targeted as a source for budget cuts and potential privatization. Indeed, proposals from the Trump Administration now seek to divert billions of dollars from the VA to private health care institutions. This is troubling for several reasons.
First, using the VA as a political football neglects the moral imperative to which we should be universally committed, namely to care for those who risk their lives in the defense of our country. If a military is vital to the well-being of our country, then the burden of service must be assumed collectively. This must include providing outstanding care to those who have served in our armed forces.
Second, it is fundamentally important to understand that VA facilities provide outstanding care to individuals with a tremendous burden of disease. This includes high rates of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions arising from combat, as well as substance use disorders.
The private sector is already inadequately equipped to deal with these issues among non-veterans. There is little doubt that veterans turned out into the traditional health care sector will find resources entirely inadequate. The specialized resources provided by the VA are an integral part of veterans' care that cannot be easily replaced.
Third, it is critical to understand that VA services go well beyond traditional physicians visits in addressing the needs of veterans. This includes efforts to address the social determinants of health by helping veterans obtain employment and housing, vital services given the high rates of homelessness in the veteran population.
The Jesse Brown VA supports a food pantry to help meet the nutritional needs of veterans who struggle financially. There are comprehensive programs to promote weight loss, an important aspect of the care of myriad chronic diseases. Free legal advice is provided. Various support groups are gathered.
The list of services that improve the lives of veterans goes on and on. All of these are vital components necessary for caring for America's veterans. Indeed, rather than moving veterans to private care, the private health care system should do more to emulate the comprehensive services provided at the VA.
If the Trump Administration is truly interested in caring for America's veterans, instead of diverting money away from the VA, they should rather be exploring ways to invest more into VA health care facilities to expand their capacity to address the growing demand generated by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Providing compassionate and comprehensive health care through a robustly funded VA system is a critical part of fulfilling the ideals on which this country stands. The administration's plans to take money out of the VA system runs counter to those ideals.
Robert M. Sargis, MD, Ph.D., of Naperville, is a staff physician at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago and an assistant professor at University of Illinois at Chicago.