Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 25 OctOber 2017

VA touts private health care for vets but cost issues linger

By HOPE YEN that needed adjustments
Associated Press to protect against erosion
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vet- of VA medical centers.
erans Affairs Secretary Dubbed Veterans CARE,
David Shulkin touted an the VA proposal would
overhaul plan Tuesday to eliminate Choice’s current
give veterans even wider restrictions that veterans
access to outside doctors can go outside the VA net-
than under its troubled work only in cases where
Choice health care pro- they had to wait more than
gram, stressing ties with 30 days for an appoint-
the private sector even ment or drive more than 40
while acknowledging key miles to a facility. Veterans
questions of rising cost and would get outside referrals
sharing of medical records based on “clinical need,”
were still unresolved. consulting with VA health
Testifying at a House hear- providers about their medi-
ing, Shulkin provided new cal problem.
details on the VA’s plan The health provider and
to permanently replace patient would then jointly
the Veterans Choice pro- decide whether it was best
gram. Acknowledging the In this Aug. 4, 2017, photo, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin speaks during a visit to the to receive care within the
Veterans Administration Medical Center in, Manchester, N.H. Shulkin is touting an overhaul plan
program would run out of to give veterans even wider access to outside doctors than under its troubled Veterans Choice VA or with a private doctor.
money sooner than ex- health care program. A veteran could take into
pected, he urged Con- (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) account the length of time
gress to act by year’s end VA system.” to approve the costs of its campaign promises from waiting for a VA appoint-
to provide stopgap fund- Still, faced with repeated proposal. Major veterans’ President Donald Trump to ment, poor performance at
ing and loosen restrictions questioning from lawmak- organizations generally op- expand “choice” for vet- the local VA hospital based
to ensure timely, qual- ers, Shulkin conceded that pose paying for Choice by erans. “Veterans’ health on department ratings, or if
ity treatment for veterans an upgraded VA informa- reducing veterans’ disabil- care should not be sub- the VA can’t provide the
when unavailable at VA tion technology system ity benefits or with cuts to jected to offsets or pay- service. The House Veter-
medical centers. needed to reduce delays core VA health programs. fors, and the full burden of ans Affairs Committee led
Veterans should get and ensure a smooth shar- “This program will require providing care for service- by Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn.,
“more choice in the say ing of medical records with offsets,” Shulkin said. disabled veterans needs is crafting a separate pro-
of their care,” Shulkin told outside doctors was still His remarks underscored to be borne by the federal posal aimed at providing
the House Veterans Af- seven to eight years away significant change under- government,” said Roscoe an integrated network of
fairs Committee. “Nobody and that the White House way at the VA, drawing Butler, a deputy director for private and VA care. Gen-
should feel trapped in the budget office also had yet both praise and consterna- The American Legion, the erally, fewer restrictions for
tion after a 2014 wait-time nation’s largest veterans veterans to access private
scandal at the Phoenix VA group. He called the initial care would mean higher
medical center and big proposals a “great start” costs to VA. q
Paradise in the Caribbean
California chief justice calls for end to cash bail

By SUDHIN THANAWALA stead rely on assessments Republican Gov. Arnold
Associated Press of defendants’ flight risk Schwarzenegger, said the
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — and danger to the public report should serve as a
California’s top judge said to determine whether they framework for discussions
Tuesday she wants to do should be released.The pro- with Gov. Jerry Brown and
away with the state’s cash posals are contained in a the Legislature. “I support
bail system, adding a pow- report by a group of judges the conclusion that Califor-
erful voice to criticism that that concluded the state’s nia’s current pretrial system
it keeps poor people be- cash bail system “unneces- unnecessarily compromises
hind bars while wealthier sarily compromises victim victim and public safety,”
suspects can pay for their and public safety” and “ex- she said in a statement. The
freedom. The bold propos- acerbates socioeconomic proposal is likely to face op-
al endorsed by California disparities and racial bias.” position from the bail indus-
Supreme Court Chief Jus- The changes would re- try. Similar bail reform mea-
tice Tani Cantil-Sakauye quire legislative approval sures approved in New Jer-
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com (ta-NEE’ kahn-TEEL sah- to go into law, and Cantil- sey and New Mexico have
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com kah-OO-weh) would in- Sakauye, appointed by faced lawsuits.q