By Russell Lemle and Jasper Craven in Task & Purpose The realm of veterans health care policymaking has, for a decade, been dominated by a dangerous libertarian fallacy, namely that greater personal choice and less government involvement are unequivocally advantageous. Allowing more options, lawmakers and advocates contend, benefits every veteran. It’s even framed as a patriotic “defense of freedom.” ,

By Bruce Carruthers The VA’s Office of the Inspector General recently released its annual staffing shortage report for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. It shows an alarming surge of “severe” staffing shortages over the last two years. (A severe shortage, broadly defined, occurs when vacancies in a particular vocation are consistently difficult to fill) Between 2021 and 2022, severe staffing shortages increased by 21.8 percent; last year they increased by 18.9 percent…

By Russell Lemle, The Washington Monthly For four decades, the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs has played an indispensable watchdog role, helping to ensure that veterans receive high-quality healthcare. Its investigators have repeatedly identified deficiencies in VA patient care and recommended corrections. The Inspector General’s office’s diligence is one reason that the quality of VA’s healthcare consistently outperforms the private sector’s. However, the Insp

By VHPI Policy Director Russell B. Lemle, PhD; Joseph T. Abate, DMD, President, National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists; and Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy and Government Relations, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs “What if VA health care goes away?” That was the headline of a July 6, 2023, Disabled American Veterans news article to its members. The question was not hypothetical. Legislation currently under consideration by the US Congress may make it a strong probability.

VHPI recently had the opportunity to correspond with Harold Kudler, M.D., one of the nation’s most experienced physicians who has dedicated his career to treating and serving veterans.

By Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was one of many federal budget items that suddenly became uncertain during the debt ceiling showdown this spring.

The Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act of 2023 has several sections that contain some useful improvements but does not go far enough in addressing problems with the Veterans Community Care Program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has long administered the most successful healthcare system in the country. As a recent summary of research yet again confirms, the quality of care delivered by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is as good as or better than the care veterans receive from VA-paid community care or the general public obtains through private care. Quite distressingly, however, the VHA is straining to maintain its workforce and programs.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continues to fight an unprecedented and unnecessary game of “chicken” with the U.S. Government debt limit, destabilizing the domestic and international economy with his deliberate, inappropriate, and dangerous behavior.

By Russell Lemle and Megan McCarthy, originally in the Federal Practitioner The VA MISSION Act of 2018 expanded options for veterans to receive government-paid health care from private sector community health care practitioners.

By Russell Lemle, originally in The Washington Monthly In 2019, with the number of U.S. veterans dying by suicide surpassing 6,000 for the 11th consecutive year, Congress searched for fresh ideas to address the crisis.

By: Brad Dress, The Hill • The Hill spoke with Suzanne Gordon about the potentially devastating cuts to veterans' benefits.

Earlier this month, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee held an important hearing that could potentially lead to the erosion of the veterans’ healthcare system.

By Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early President Joe Biden has voiced concern that corporate consolidation has led to what he calls “widening racial, income, and wealth inequality.”