http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/moran-mccain-propose-bill-reform-va-healthcare
Moran, McCain propose bill to reform VA healthcare
The Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017 would require the agency to implement an integrated healthcare network, while drafting standards on access and quality.
By Jessica DavisDecember 04, 201702:36 PM
Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas introduced legislation Monday designed to modernize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ healthcare system.
The Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017 would require the agency to develop and implement a plan to create a high-performing integrated healthcare network and use objective healthcare demand data to create standards on access and quality.
[Also: Feds say VA failed to report 90% of poor-performing providers]
These standards would also identify and bridge gaps in patient care -- whether veterans receive care at the VA or community facilities.
Further, the bill is aimed to improve collaboration with community providers and other federal agencies, by ensuring the agency promptly pays community providers and opens access to walk-in clinics. McCain and Moran also want to ensure the VA offers telemedicine and increases graduate medical education.
[Also: Cerner DoD overhaul coming out in waves; VA deal means 'single system' approach]
“The Veterans Choice Program was the first step in delivering on that promise, but much more needs to be done to provide all veterans a choice in when and where they receive care,” said McCain in a statement.
To McCain, the bill will strengthen the program by “consolidating and streamlining the VA’s community care program.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/08/05/trumps-claim-that-mccain-has-not-done-a-good-job-for-veterans/?utm_term=.d87bae2c7b20The Pinocchio Test
Whether McCain “should have done a much better job” is more of Trump’s opinion, and not readily fact-checkable. But it’s clear that Trump’s claim that McCain “has not done a good job for the vets” contradicts McCain’s voting record on many veterans issues, from making POW information public to negotiating a major overhaul legislation for VA after a national scandal over wait-time delays.
Over the years, veterans groups have criticized McCain for certain votes that affect various interests within the veteran community, or opposed some of his proposals. But even the organizations that have criticized parts of his voting record have recognized his overall contribution to veterans issues throughout his career.
Trump’s implication here is that McCain has somehow not lived up to a standard Trump has set for how a veteran in public office should represent the interests of fellow veterans. Perhaps Trump should hold himself to a higher standard, too — rather than, say, tell the public he donated $1 million to the veterans without actually doing it, and only giving the money after being called out by a reporter.
Three Pinocchios
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