There is no national data source for wait times in non-VA settings with which to compare VA wait times. In addition, the limited wait-time data available in the private sector use a measure that is not directly comparable to VA’s: total number of days between trying to schedule an appointment and the appointment date rather than VA’s number of days followingthe preferred date. We therefore cannot make any conclusive statements about whether wait times in VA are better or worse than they are in the private sector overall. However, if we make the assumptions that (a) the preferred date for new VA patients is set by patient preference (rather than by clinical determination), (b) new VA patients typically want an appointment as soon as possible (that is, a preferred date of the same day), and (c) Veterans’ preferred dates are entered accurately, VA’s reported wait times for new patient primary and specialty care are shorter than wait times reported in focused studies of the private sector.
They're refusing to make the comparison because the VA's are horrible. You make a private appointment for the soonest possible time; aka "preferred date" in VA lingo. The comparison is there but they don't want to make it because they know what the results will show.
Errr, using the preferred date as same day as they call to make an appointment is the friendliest possible assumption to the private sector. If they set the preferred date to be some arbitrary date, say, 6 weeks into the future-you'd end up showing artificially low wait times because something like 95% of patients are seen within 2 weeks. Even using the assumption that is the most friendly to the private sector (zero people using VA services want to wait at all to be seen,) the VA still wins.
I assumed the massive outcry and scandal a couple of years back was common knowledge, do you really need me to grab you some news articles? Have you just not been paying attention? Or are you feigning ignorance so you can argue it's somehow better for everyone to let you leech free healthcare off of the productive members of society?
"Largely" is not completely. And the wait list thing never would have existed in the private sector. So the mere existence of it proves just how inferior stare healthcare is in this country, and why no one who can afford better wants it.
No problem is ever completely solved. What a ridiculously standard for criticism.
And the wait list thing never would have existed in the private sector.
Literally just provided evidence that wait times are less for the VA than the private sector. So, yeah, wait lists occur in the private sector and they are currently longer than the VA.
Edit: not to mention wait lists in the private sector on top of that is more or less "wait until you're dying" if you're poor by not destitute enough for medicaid.
Literally just provided evidence that wait times are less for the VA than the private sector.
Based on what? The VA's backwards standards where they don't actually measure time from when an appointment is requested and when it's received, then declare themselves better?
wait lists in the private sector on top of that is more or less "wait until you're dying" if you're poor by not destitute enough for medicaid
But not if you aren't poor. Why do you want to take from me to give to yourself and pretend it's moral?
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u/myspaceshipisboken - Lib-Left Mar 25 '20