So in this canon, the Departments of State, Defense, and Veteran's Affars are merged.
Included below are a few directives I recently made at veterans affairs. Relatedly, Directive 5 requires all VHA facilities to have a ptsd program.
This bill expands the number of veterans eligible to receive ptsd treatment. I have no objection and as long as the money is appropriated there should be no real problems in implementing the law.
In accordance with Reforming and Regionalizing Public Healthcare Act of 2017, I am issuing the following Departmental directives.
1.) The Secretary of State was tasked by statute to analyze the current VA system in light of Atlascare and make efficiency and cost saving recommendations. As all current and former veterans are eligible for federal Atlascare participation, the Veteran’s Health Administration in the sub-department of Veterans Affairs has largely become redundant. Pretty much all hospitals participate in the federal Atlascare program. It seems unnecessary for the VA to own and operate the number of hospitals in our current portfolio, when there are adequate private market substitutes.. Requiring veterans to seek care at only VA facilities is what led to the recent rationing scandal. As all Veterans are enrolled in federal Atlascare, they now have access to a much deeper medical provider network, which should result in our Veterans having more choice and flexibility in seeking treatment, as well as preventing future rationing.
Therefore, I hereby recommend that all VA medical facilities become independent chartered non-profit hospitals or clinics, with the following 43 exceptions:
The Regional flagship hospitals in: Bedford, MA; Albany, NY; the Bronx, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Linthicum, MD; Durham, NC; Duluth, GA; St. Petersburg, FL; Nashville, TN; Cincinnati, OH; Ann Arbor, MI; Hines, IL; Kansas City, MO; Ridgeland, MS; Arlington, TX; Mesa, AZ; Glendale, CO; Vancouver, WA; Mare Island, CA; Long Beach, CA; Minneapolis, MN; and Lincoln, NE.
The Amputee treatment centers located in: Denver, CO; Palo Alto, CA; Richmond, VA; Seattle, WA; and Tampa, FL.
The Washington D.C. Veterans Center.
The Pine Ridge Veterans Center in SD.
The Honolulu, Hilo, Lihue, Kailua-Kona, Kahului, and Wailuku Veterans Centers in HI.
The Kennai and Soldotna Veterans Centers in AK.
The Hagatna and Agana Heights Veterans Centers in Guam.
The Pago Pago Veterans Center in American Samoa.
The St. Croix and St. Thomas Veterans Centers in the American Virgin Islands.
The San Juan Veterans Center in Puerto Rico.
2.) This will result in the termination of VA management and control over 1,215 existing facilities, but not the total elimination of the VHA. I will be seeking GM estimates of how long the transition from federal to chartered non-profit hospital status should take. Additionally, I will be seeking GM estimates on how much cost savings will accrue to the federal government. Prior to Atlascare, the VHA employed close to 300,000 persons and cost $65 Billion per year. I will be seeking GM estimates on how many employees will need to remain in the VHA to adequately staff the 43 facilities we are maintaining, as well as to maintain an adequate number of case workers to ensure that our Veterans get help enrolling in Atlascare and that their payment claims are processed correctly.
3.) Any Veteran who struggles to find adequate medical treatment due to a total lack of nearby hospitals or medical clinics, may seek treatment at any Military hospital.
4.) Any Veteran who receives treatment for burns or complications related from burns may seek treatment at any Military hospital with a burn center.
5.) All remaining VHA Facilities must offer a treatment program for PTSD.
