When discussing healthcare policies, especially those impacting veterans, it’s common to hear terms like “Trump Care.” This raises a crucial question: Is There Actually A Government Program Called Trump Care? While there isn’t a formally named program with that moniker, the Trump administration did enact significant changes to veteran healthcare, primarily through the VA Mission Act of 2018. This act has become a focal point of discussion and, for some veterans, concern.
One veteran, reflecting on these changes, expresses apprehension about the Mission Act’s implications. The veteran questions why older veterans would be pleased with provisions that extend VA pension reductions for Medicare-covered veterans in nursing homes. Furthermore, there’s unease regarding the elimination of the Choice Program and the introduction of co-payments after just two visits to non-VA healthcare providers, particularly for sick or disabled veterans in upstate areas. The sentiment is clear: for veterans satisfied with their current VA healthcare, the need for such sweeping changes is not apparent.
Adding to the concern, the veteran points to reports of potential external influence on veteran healthcare policy during the Trump administration. It’s noted that a lawsuit was reportedly filed against the administration, alleging unlawful outsourcing of veterans’ policy to members of the Mar-a-Lago Club. These allegations suggest that individuals without official government or military experience may have been shaping critical decisions regarding veterans’ health. Specifically, figures like Marvel Entertainment CEO Ike Perlmutter, Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, and lawyer Marc Sherman are mentioned as having significant influence through meetings with senior VA officials, potentially behind closed doors.
Image alt text: Exterior view of the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, a point of controversy in discussions around veteran healthcare policy influence.
This alleged influence raises questions about the motivations behind the changes and whether they truly serve the best interests of veterans. The veteran highlights the establishment of new VA bureaucracies under the Mission Act, such as the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment and the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission. Concerns are raised about the lack of transparency regarding who would serve on these boards, the costs associated with this added bureaucracy, and the potential impact on healthcare deductibles and fees charged by non-VA providers.
The Mission Act’s Veterans Community Care Program, designed to offer care through non-VA providers, is seen by some as a step towards privatization. While intended to expand healthcare access, the veteran expresses disappointment with the overall direction and conception of the Mission Act. Based on personal experience and the views of fellow veterans, the existing VA healthcare system is perceived as already providing “exceptional care by trusting, caring partners.”
To address these concerns, the veteran offers several recommendations:
- Lobby legislators to keep the Choice Program: This suggests a desire to maintain options for veterans to seek care outside the VA system when needed, without the perceived drawbacks of the Mission Act’s replacement program.
- Lobby to rescind the Mission Act or at Least Keep Elected Officials Informed: This emphasizes the need for greater oversight and potentially a reversal of the current policy direction, or at minimum, ensuring elected officials are fully aware of and involved in veteran healthcare changes.
- Limit referrals to non-VA health care facilities as necessary: This suggests a preference for maintaining the VA system as the primary provider, with non-VA care as a secondary option when truly required.
- Recruit veteran ombudsmen to review non-VA health care: This proposes a mechanism for veteran oversight of the non-VA care provided under the Mission Act, ensuring quality and accountability.
In conclusion, while “Trump Care” isn’t an official program name, the VA Mission Act represents a significant shift in veteran healthcare policy enacted during the Trump administration. Veterans have raised valid concerns about its provisions, potential privatization, and the influence of external entities. The core message remains that many veterans value the current VA healthcare system and seek to ensure any changes truly improve, rather than detract from, the care they receive. Moving forward, it’s crucial to listen to veteran voices and ensure transparency and veteran-centricity in all healthcare policy decisions.
