VFW: VA Health Care Trending in Right Direction
Seventh 'Our Care' survey reveals pulse of veterans
WASHINGTON (September 27, 2019) -- The
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States this week released the
results of its latest nationwide survey on the Department of Veterans
Affairs health care system from the veterans' point-of-view. Now in its
seventh edition, the VFW created "Our Care" in the aftermath of the
nationwide crisis in access to care and confidence that enveloped the VA
in 2014, and the ensuing legislative corrective
actions that followed. More than 6,900 veterans participated in the
latest edition, bringing the total number of "Our Care" respondents to
more than 33,000 veterans from every state, territory, and the District
of Columbia.
"The
VFW prides itself on having the ability to take the pulse of veterans,
especially in evaluating what works at the VA and what doesn't," said
VFW National Commander William J. "Doc"
Schmitz, of Corning, N.Y. "Veterans turn to VA for high-quality,
individualized care, but there is always room for improvement,
especially in the areas of access to quality care inside VA medical
facilities and outside in the communities," he explained. "That's
why such surveys are so important, because the only way to improve any
service is to routinely take the pulse of the customers the VA exists to
serve."
This
year's "Our Care" survey included care experience questions from past
surveys, as well as logic-based questions on innovations unique to the
recently passed MISSION Act, which
improved upon its predecessor Choice Act in areas like community
care consolidation as well as introducing a new urgent care benefit. Not
surprising is that most veterans who use the VA also have other care
options, such as that provided through private
insurance, Medicare or Tricare. Still, very noticeable was 74 percent of
respondents reported seeing improvements at their local VA, compared to
64 percent in 2018, and 91 percent of respondents recommend VA care to
other veterans compared to 80 percent last
year. Also positive was learning that veterans who were offered
community care still prefer to receive their care from the VA, that
veterans who use community care facilities are reporting fewer billing
problems, and that veterans have a positive opinion of
the new urgent care benefit.
VA
health care is trending in the right direction, but the VFW wants the
VA to continue the momentum. "Veterans tell us that they view VA care as
an earned benefit designed for their unique
needs," said the VFW national commander. "The innovations over the past
year may have expanded non-VA care options, but the response has been
more veterans enrolling in the VA for more care -- and choosing to
receive that care through VA, not an outside provider,"
he said. "Community care has always had a role in caring for our
nation's wounded, ill and injured veterans, but its purpose is to
augment, not replace, the continuity and continuum of care that only the
VA can provide. And with our seventh report, our nation's
veterans agree."
-VFW-
ABOUT THE VFW: The
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation's largest and oldest
major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the
congressionally-chartered
VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service
members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.6
million VFW and Auxiliary members located in 6,200 Posts worldwide, the
nonprofit veterans service organization is proud
to proclaim "NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS" than the VFW, which is
dedicated to veterans' service, legislative advocacy, and military and
community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our
website at vfw.org.
CONTACT: Joe Davis, Director of Public Affairs, 202-608-8357
