The Importance Of Health Care For Veterans

In the “A Lifeline for Troubled Veterans” (2017), The Editorial Board insists that “ the government needs to do a lot more to prevent veteran suicides and homelessness”(2). The board relays this information to the reader through factual information regarding the government's knowing of this issue (“the government does not know what percentage of these veterans have acute mental health problems”(2)) and have not acknowledged their presence. He has gone through this trouble of making he thoughts known in order to finally get to help the veterans with only less than honorable discharges “to seek care at a V.A. Emergency room or by calling the Veterans Crisis Line”(2) from the government. The boards main purpose of writing this was to spread

A practice change in a non-VA primary care practice led by a Nurse Practitioner (NP) that includes identifying eligible veterans and utilizing the referral process guidelines to peer support services. In the Veterans Choice Program, 2015 the authorization for all non-VA medical care for veterans who resides more than 40 miles from a VA health care clinic or is not able to obtain a medical appointment within 30 days is eligible to receive care from a non-VA entity. The consignment of all medical care appointments are over sought by Health Net, which authorizes all non-service, secured care. PCPs are highly fortified to communicate with veterans with a courtesy memorandum for their medical appointment. PCPs must adhere to the subsequent standards

The fiscal year 2010 increased funding for the Department of VA affairs by $25 billion over the next five years. The budget includes an 11% increase in resources funding of 55.9 million dollars. The budget increases health care funding for veterans enabling the VA to provide time, high quality care to 5.5 million veterans. The budget provides for a collaborative pilot program with non-profit organizations to help veterans avoid homelessness.

With Veteran's Day coming up, it is time to consider the impact that funding cuts are having on our veterans. Funding for a variety of veteran's issues typically comes through the federal Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA). There have been instance recently where budget cuts have reduced the quality and quantity of state-funded memorial services for veterans (Brunswick, 2012) and cut access to service dogs for PTSD veterans (Dolak, 2012).

The heroes that make up our armed forces often suffer from terrible experiences in battle, some of which severely impact their mental and physical health, including suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or PSTD. Unfortunately, this has caused many of them to turn to drugs, whether prescription or illicit, to treat these problems. In fact, recent statistics estimate that one in 10 soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from a substance abuse problem.

Throughout the history of the United States the government has felt a responsibility to care for those who defend the freedom of the United States. This responsibility is to make sure that our veterans have the best care possible when they return home from war. Since its establishment, the Veterans Affairs (VA) has come under fire from all angles, saying that they are not offering the best possible care for our Veterans. Throughout history yellow journalism has been found to destroy some organizations. The VA is an organization who has experienced the effects of yellow journalism and they are trying to recover. The VA is taking the yellow journalism and turning it into constructive criticism in order to improve their services for the United States Veterans.

Steps have been taken to improve the situation for rural and highly rural veterans. In 2011 President Obama “pledged the support of the federal government for increased behavioral health care services through prevention-based alternatives and integration of community-based services through the Strengthening Our Military Families initiative.”(Helseth). Also in 2011 then VA head Eric Shinseki took part is a Listening and Walking Tour, visiting veterans in North Dakota, Montana, and Alaska.

This study strives to increase the awareness of healthcare disparities among veterans in hopes that veterans can receive the best healthcare possible. This study has the potential to change the structure of veterans’ health care. If their health care is damaged to the extent that some insiders and outsiders believe it to be, then hopefully the veterans’ health care system can be restructured. These disparities can be addressed in community outreach programs to expand common knowledge on the subject.

Are Veterans receiving the same response by United States after reaching home? Thousands of wounded troops are coming home and they really need medical care. In past the government of United States was obliged these veterans with great medical care and benefits to them and their dependents. But lately it’s more important to look- whether Iraq War veterans are getting the same benefits and medical treatments as they deserve or cheated?

Current funding for veteran healthcare care is low and insufficient because of the large number of veterans, who are being discharged from the military as the country transitions to a democratic President. According to Dr. Rachel Nardin in her article about veteran healthcare, “Soldiers get excellent acute care when injured on active duty, but as revelations of poor conditions for soldiers receiving ongoing outpatient care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center highlighted, service members often have trouble getting the care they need once active duty ends” (Nardin 1)

Throughout history, many veterans suffer after fighting in wars, and millions of veterans have been killed or injured. Veterans do not necessarily get the treatments they deserve without paying a price. Taking care of veterans costs a lot and health care is needed for them. They need health care after serving, in order to treat their problems and injuries. Jobs are also important to veterans because they are jobless after fighting in wars, which leads them to be homeless. It is important for people who need help to get help. As of right now, the government has attempted to help veterans, but it may not be enough.

When you hear the word ‘hero,’ you probably envision someone wearing a uniform, serving the country and preparing for war. We place veterans and soldiers in the spotlight at the mention of it. The population never did this in the past. Americans saw veterans as regular people just like us. They were: tall and short, smart and dumb, and capable of bad and good decisions. However, now we treat them as if they were gods. We do this because we saw veterans as our protectors against the dangers our country faces. Yet, we still felt like this in the past, but we didn’t honor veterans like in today’s society; maybe it’s because less soldier were returning in body bags.

I believe that it is the best interest of veterans, whom have served the military in any capacity to be afforded not just medication, but also some form of counseling. Being a veteran myself I have experienced: over medicating by the government, not receiving any form of counseling, and when I was given an appointment it was six months from the day that it was scheduled.

Veterans are heroes in the eyes of many citizens of the United States. There are over 20 million veterans that have risked their lives at young ages to help give the nation a fear free life. They serve and protect the land for their children, spouses, parents, family, and neighbors. Yet they are not treated with the love and respect they truly deserve. The veterans took a devastating loss when the “House Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the 2016 Veterans Affairs funding bill, and slashed more than $1.4 billion from the presidents requested budget for America’s Veterans” ( ask mrs. Pyle 8). Today, the veterans are treated worse than prisoners who have committed murder or rape. While these criminals have a safe and warm place to stay,

The VA (Veterans Affair) Health Care System is one of the largest, most advanced health care networks in the U.S. The VA Health Care System is the provider for veterans, retirees and their dependents and manages all their health care. The VA Health Care is actually one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. There is also VA Benefits Administration which has to do with compensations and pensions. Then the other part of the VA is the National Cemetery Administration which is in charge of the cemeteries and providing burial and memorial benefits. All these parts make up the Department of Veterans Affairs. (VA History)