VA privatization, tele-health, and veterans' gun storage habits

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Leading the news this week from VeteransPolicy.org

A Troubling Trend Concerns about cuts at the VA to pay for Non-VA care VHPI Steering Committee Members and Fellows attended the Veterans for Peace and American Legion conventions in Minneapolis last week. A panel was held on increased privatization of VA services and how to pay for it. “Congress has to allocate additional funding, specifically earmarked to fund the VA Mission Act,” said VHPI's Suzanne Gordon. “If they don’t, every dollar spent on more expensive lower quality, private sector care will come out of the Veteran Administration’s budget.” Read More List of concerns grow re: VA privatization Readiness, funding, access, and motive are major areas of discussion in the ongoing debate around VA privatization. Read Rubén Rosario's piece in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Electronic health records project shakeup After just a month on the job, a chief health information officer has resigned from the VA / Cerner electronic health record modernization project saying Administration officials had taken the effort in a 'different direction' than originally planned. Read more at HealthcareITNews. Third of veterans store firearms loaded, unlocked How and where veterans store firearms is important to suicide prevention strategies. Additionally, many veterans cite fears about having their firearms confiscated should they seek mental health care. Read about this study's findings at News-Medical.net. Walgreens/VA pharmacy pilot moves forward The VA has allowed Walgreens to access patient pharmaceutical data as the community care program expands. Read more at the Providence Journal. The 'gray tsunami' and VA nursing homes  Read this piece from Southern California Public Radio about the unique long term care needs of aging veterans. Then read our report about how VA Nursing Homes stack up against the private sector. The importance of a good connection An often overlooked benefit of rural high-speed internet is that it allows care to be delivered to veterans who are far from a VA facility. Watch the report at KUTV.   Copyright © 2018 Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, All rights reserved. You’ve subscribed to the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute newsletter (formerly FFVHC). Our mailing address is: 4081 Norton Ave., Oakland CA 94602 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.