Colorado Springs Gazette: President Obama Opposes VA Privatization

President Barack Obama has outlined his opposition against the privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs in an interview with the Colorado Springs Gazette published Sunday.

Megan Schrader writes Obama plans to address what issues remain at the VA over the remaining few months of his second term and called a proposal for the department’s privatization a “mistake.”

Obama told the Gazette an overhaul to the system would hamper his administration’s efforts to modernize healthcare for veterans.

“If you look at, for example, VA healthcare, there have been challenges getting people into the system,” Obama told the publication after the 2016 Air Force Academy graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium.

“Once they are in, they are extremely satisfied and the quality of care is very high,” Obama added.

The department currently is in partnership with some private health centers under the Veterans Access to Care Act in 2014 to provide care to veterans if a VA clinic is beyond 40 miles, Schrader reports.

“We’ve done some work for individuals in special circumstances so that they have access to the healthcare that’s nearest to them,” Obama said.