New York Doctors Not Ready To Treat Veterans

Veterans’ benefits allow veterans to receive free medical care from Veterans’ Administration (VA) facilities. Many veterans, not happy with the level of care they receive from the VA, are looking for alternatives. The government in New York is considering sending these veterans to health care providers in their communities. However, most doctors in the state are not ready to take on these new patients, fearing that they won’t be able to provide quality care in a timely manner.

The state—and most of the nation, for that matter—is at odds on how to best deliver health care to veterans. The VA, which is the second-largest federal government agency, operates more than 1,200 medical facilities across the United States. At these hospitals and clinics, 9 million veterans receive treatment for a low cost or even for free.

The VA health care system, however, is flawed at best. Billions of dollars were spent a few years ago to make improvements, but nothing has gotten better.  Patients are still experiencing delays in receiving medical treatment as these facilities deal with insufficient staffing and outdated systems. Patients are frustrated with the system. They’re not getting the care they need and are looking for alternatives, including seeing private doctors that are local to them.

The government is on board with this solution, proposing that veterans seek medical care from doctors in their communities. However, the doctors aren’t on board. They fear they’re not ready to deal with these patients, as most are not aware of the military culture and unfamiliar with the screening procedures used for veterans. In fact, a study by the  New York State Health Foundation states that only 2 percent of New York doctors are prepared to take on military veterans as new patients.

Federal officials, however, want veterans to have more options when it comes to their health care. Considering that civilian health care professionals do not have the knowledge to care for the unique needs of veterans, though a lot of work still needs to be done to fill in the gap.

There are more than 800,000 veterans in New York. Approximately 50 percent of them are under the age of 65. The state spends more than $6 billion on benefits for veterans. Half of this amount is spent on medical care.

Contact Us for More Information About VA Benefits

Even though the VA benefits system has its pros and cons, it’s still important to make sure you have these benefits in place if you’re a veteran. With health care costs rising rapidly, it’s nice to know that free or low cost medical care is available to you—despite its flaws.

Don’t let this fate happen to you. If you are facing denials and delays, know that there are options available to you. Contact the Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon in White Plains so we can help you with any issues you may be facing regarding your veterans’ benefits. Call our office at 914-294-2145 to schedule an appointment.

Resources:

nytimes.com/2018/03/06/us/politics/veterans-affairs-shulkin-koch-brothers.html

cnn.com/2016/07/05/politics/veterans-administration-va/index.html

newyorkupstate.com/news/2018/03/most_ny_docs_not_ready_to_care_for_veterans_seeking_va_alternatives_study_shows.html