The National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists (NAVAPD) acknowledges the significant concerns highlighted in the recently released report, The VA Privatization Playbook: Two Decades of Denial, authored by Russell Lemle and Suzanne Gordon.
The report examines the increasing dependence on private-sector healthcare and raises critical concerns about its long-term effects on VA staffing, funding, and the availability of specialized medical services for our nation’s veterans.
NAVAPD maintains that a strong, adequately funded, and fully staffed VA healthcare system is vital to delivering the high-quality, coordinated care that veterans deserve. While community care serves an important purpose in improving access when VA facilities cannot provide timely or appropriate services, it should strengthen—not undermine or replace—the VA’s integrated healthcare system.
NAVAPD is particularly concerned about the consequences of ongoing workforce shortages, difficulties in recruiting and retaining physicians and dentists, and the potential redirection of resources away from direct patient care. These challenges can significantly affect the quality, continuity, and accessibility of healthcare services for veterans.
NAVAPD urges VA leadership and Congress to thoroughly evaluate the report’s findings, strengthen investments in the VA clinical workforce, and ensure that community care decisions are driven by patient outcomes, clinical requirements, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
Our commitment remains unwavering: to safeguard the physician-patient relationship, advocate for the healthcare professionals dedicated to serving veterans, and preserve the VA’s ability to deliver exceptional, comprehensive healthcare for generations to come.
Read the full report: The VA Privatization Playbook: Two Decades of Denial
