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The VA is silently taking away veterans’ control of their health care

Veterans deserve a “square deal” once they finish their service. This is not a new concept. Teddy Roosevelt used those exact words more than a hundred years ago, and it still is the central idea about how veterans’ health care should work. Unfortunately, veterans face a health care system that often works against instead of for them. In a… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Monday, November 13th 2023

Watch: Veterans share gratitude and hope for the future of their health care on Veterans Day

During Veterans Day weekend, veterans of all branches shared their gratitude for all the appreciation they get on Veterans Day – the free lunches, coffees, haircuts, and rounds of golf.  It’s important we as a country thank and honor those who put on the uniform in service to the country.  And it’s equally important to… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Monday, November 13th 2023

Republican presidential candidates completely ignore veterans issues in third debate

If you were watching the debate with a bingo card in hand, you’d certainly be able to cross out mentions of the economy, the threat of China, entitlement reform, abortion, health care, and a host of other issues.   What you didn’t hear though was any mention of reform to the Department of Veterans Affairs or… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Friday, November 10th 2023

What is the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, and how would it empower veterans to get the care they need?

All over the country, veterans who use the Department of Veterans Affairs for their health care are facing long wait times, mismanaged cases, and obstacles to receiving needed care.  While the VA MISSION Act expanded community care options to many veterans, the VA has skirted the law to keep veterans out of the community and in… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Wednesday, November 1st 2023

Selnick: Veterans shouldn’t have their health care needs dictated to them by a self-serving VA

I recently read an opinion piece in Task & Purpose on the “grim dangers” of allowing veterans the choice to access community care through their VA benefits. The piece paints a startling, albeit inaccurate, picture of what would potentially happen to veterans if choice legislation were passed. It’s chock full of half-truths, misleading statistics, and… Read more »

By Darin Selnick
Monday, October 23rd 2023

Veterans’ take on the second GOP presidential debate

Once again, waiting for Republican presidential candidates to talk about their plans for reforming veterans health care is like waiting for an appointment at the VA – it’s taking way too long.  We were hopeful that after the first debate, where we heard nothing but lip service toward veterans, candidates would hear the millions around… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Tuesday, October 3rd 2023

Will presidential candidates talk about veterans health care this time around?

In the last GOP presidential debate, candidates neglected to lay out any of their plans for reforming veterans health care.  So let’s try this again.  We asked more veterans around the country what they want to hear from candidates about better health care and the Department of Veterans Affairs.    I’m most concerned about the… Read more »

By Emilye Bell
Friday, September 22nd 2023