VA Privatization–Choice It Isn’t

BY John Rowan

We are ever vigilant in our fight against efforts to privatize the VA health system. I am a classic example of why this won’t work. The VA already uses private-sector doctors. On February 15, 2017, I underwent cardiac surgery to replace my aortic valve at the Manhattan VA Medical Center.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Eugene Grassi and his colleagues from the New York University School of Medicine. My recovery, however, took place in the VAMC and my care was provided by VA nursing staff. My ICU nurse was a 28-year Army veteran. One of my after-care nurses was a Navy veteran and one of the occupational therapists was a retired Army colonel. They care about veterans.

Some politicians believe that the private sector can do a better job, but that has not been my experience. I was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1983 by the VA during an Agent Orange physical. As result, I have had annual physicals by my private-sector dermatologist. Unfortunately, after all these years he retired. When I approached my private health care provider for a new dermatologist they could not come up with one close by and the next appointment was three months away. When I called the VA—as I am now service connected—they got me an appointment in two weeks. And I don’t even want to talk about the extreme extra expense of trying to service veterans in the private sector.

We must stop any efforts to turn over our health care to the for-profit health care business, because Congress will not be able to fund it.

In this issue Loana Hoylman explains the DNA techniques used by DPAA in identifying MIA remains. These breakthroughs have helped us in many ways to identify our lost, but it has also helped us determine some of the effects of Agent Orange.

Former National President Mary Stout tells the story of VVA’s early efforts as the lone organization trying to understand what happened to us from our exposure to Agent Orange. The article is part of our effort to revisit the organization’s history during this, our fortieth anniversary.

I want to congratulate Sharon Hodge and Maureen Elias for being named among the top one hundred veteran advocates by HillVets for their service on behalf of our veterans.

Drs. Tom Berger and Tom Hall separate fact from fiction in the debate over medical marijuana. Our colleagues in Colorado and some other states may have access to legal marijuana, but the VA has not concurred with these state positions.

In the last issue I mentioned the memorial in Ennis for those born in Ireland who served in our military and were killed in Ireland. Recently I learned that my friend Marc McCabe’s father, who was a Master Sergeant in the Army when he was killed in Vietnam, was born in Galway, Ireland. I will work to get his name added to this memorial.

If you know of any other KIAs who were born in Ireland, please send their information to jrowan@vva.org

As we go through the usual ups and downs of March weather we can always take the opportunity to celebrate on the 17th when everybody is Irish.