Privatizing VA services won’t improve patient care

Submitted by smaple on

The VA Mission Act in Congress creates a permanent Community Care program to replace the temporary Choice program that currently refers Veterans Administration patients to private providers. This will divert $22 billion over five years that could be used to address staffing shortages that have led to long wait times for care in some VA facilities.

The case for investing more VA resources on private care is based on specious claims of pervasive problems in wait times and poor quality of care. In fact, the VA’s record in both is exceptional.

Rick Staggenborg, The Register-Guard

Eastern Maine Medical Center Nurses Held Vigil Over Safe Staffing Concerns In Bangor

Submitted by smaple on
Nurse at vigil

Registered nurses with the Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) held a candlelight vigil Thursday evening to shine a light on a critical safe staffing concern at the medical facility in Bangor, Maine. The vigil was sponsored by the Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA), the union that represents the 850 EMMC nurses.
 

Maine State Nurses Association/NNOC
Aug 28, 2018

National Nurses United Applauds Judge’s Decision to Strike Down Key Provisions in Trump’s Anti-Union Executive Orders

Submitted by smaple on
VA RNs demonstrate for their rights

National Nurses United (NNU) applauds a federal judge’s ruling that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he issued executive orders that sought to strip 2.1 million public sector workers, including Veterans Health Administration registered nurses, of their protected union rights. This ruling marks a major win for federal workers, strikes a blow to those forces pushing a blatantly anti-union agenda, and protects nurses’ collective voice through the union to advocate for safe care for veterans.  
 

National Nurses United
Aug 27, 2018

Nurses Demand Answers at Dignity Health/Catholic Health Initiatives Merger Hearings

Submitted by smaple on
Nurses are the heart of patent care

At a series of upcoming impact hearings held by the California State Attorney General’s office, registered nurses with the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) will demand to know how the proposed merger between Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) will impact patient health and safety, healthcare access, and maintenance of charity care standards.
 

California Nurses Association
Sep 4, 2018

Don’t privatize the VA

Submitted by smaple on

I am a Vietnam veteran who is concerned that the Veterans Affairs Mission Act, recently signed by President Trump, will lead to the destruction of the VA system, the system best suited to care for me and my fellow veterans.

The bill was sold as a way to help veterans get care from non-VA doctors. But in reality, it threatens the very existence of the VA and seems destined to lead to budget cuts for VA services, putting the VA on a path to cannibalize itself — which will hurt veterans and their families.

Frank Toner writing to the Queens Chronicle