Man: Way inside there... see? Next to the convoluted incentives and behind the broken accountability monitor, the veterans' part of this is out of whack...
The expansion of health access to all citizens will create a shortage of doctors, especially in places like the VA where pay is relatively low, and workloads immense. If we want good and prompt health care for our veterans we’re going to have to spend more than we have been, and use the money to expand staffs, it is that simple. Civilian medicos are often poor as understanding veterans and their peculiar medical needs. Sending veterans out to find their care in the civilian market may be necessary, but is not the best solution. The rising demand for doctors that comes with expanding coverage and an aging population should result in an increase in supply, if classical market economics work. In this case however, the demand is more elastic than the supply chain, and it is going to take some policy changes to increase the supply of doctors. To fail to do so, or (worse) to withdraw coverage from people to reduce demand, would be reprehensible.
The expansion of health access to all citizens will create a shortage of doctors, especially in places like the VA where pay is relatively low, and workloads immense. If we want good and prompt health care for our veterans we’re going to have to spend more than we have been, and use the money to expand staffs, it is that simple. Civilian medicos are often poor as understanding veterans and their peculiar medical needs. Sending veterans out to find their care in the civilian market may be necessary, but is not the best solution. The rising demand for doctors that comes with expanding coverage and an aging population should result in an increase in supply, if classical market economics work. In this case however, the demand is more elastic than the supply chain, and it is going to take some policy changes to increase the supply of doctors. To fail to do so, or (worse) to withdraw coverage from people to reduce demand, would be reprehensible.