Vet wait times was an issue in 1993

Found Letter Reminds this Vet that VA Hospital Wait Times are Always a problem.

I recently lost my job.  

Ironically it was for going to the VA ER with a serious medical problem.  But that is another story.

I sat down last week and pulled out my old resumes.  

I found something that should have not been in there:  

An old letter from the Late Senator Paul Wellstone dated July 26th, 1993 regarding Veterans Administration Health Care as it related to his National Healthcare Reform.

In 1993 I was The State Legislative Director for AMVETS (a National Veteran's group who covers all veterans). One of the things I was working on was Healthcare reform with Senator Wellstone. The letter in question was regarding concerns that The Minnesota Veterans Service Groups had in relationship to his plan and problems with the VA.

One statement, in particular, really jarred my memory:

"Veterans want to see improvement in the timeliness, effectiveness and quality of the adjudication and appeals process for veterans' claims for service-connected disability compensation and other benefits."

In 1993 that was an understatement.  Many veterans were denied care that would not be denied now.  The VA cares for a great deal more Veterans than it did in 1993.

So wait times that we were arguing about over 20 years later have only become far worse.

The only difference is now that we can actually track the people who die awaiting care.

I don't think I need say more.

Shane.