No amount of spin can change the fact that Charles and David Koch, through Concerned Veterans for America, their “pro-veterans” front-group that works against veterans’ interests, want to privatize veterans’ health care. They can claim otherwise, but there’s plenty of proof to back up their not-so-secret privatization intentions.
First of all, CNN just last week confirmed previous claims that CVA is not only Koch-controlled, but also actively promoting VA privatization.
Concerned Veterans hasn’t exactly been secretive about about their intentions. The group has expressly endorsed what it described as “a premium-support private insurance option” for veterans health care. And news outlets such as Stars and Stripes have characterized the CVA proposal as “a radical plan unveiled Thursday to largely privatize VA health care.”
Outside groups have similarly described CVA-backed proposals as VA “privatization.”According to USA Today, “The American Legion made clear in a statement…it would not back the [CVA supported] plan, saying it opposes privatization and vouchers as a long-term solution.”
The majority of veterans are opposed to “privatizing the VA health care system,” according to a recent bipartisan poll, which “found that almost two-thirds of survey respondents oppose plans to replace VA health care with a voucher system.”
Facts:
1) CVA has promoted VA “reform” proposals that it has itself described as making VA health care “private” and “premium support”-based.
2) News outlets and veterans advocacy groups have described specific CVA-promoted proposals as efforts to “privatize” VA health care.
3) A majority of veterans actively oppose proposals to “replace VA health care with a voucher system.”
It’s clear that the Kochs and their sham veterans advocacy front group support VA privatization. And given that actual veterans actively oppose such proposals, it’s similarly obvious that CVA is yet another Koch political vehicle that doesn’t in actuality represent the interests of the demographic it purports to support.
At the end of the day, CVA will always promote Koch interests over those of veterans — no matter what.
For more on CVA, check out Bridge Project and Vote Vets’ joint-report on the Koch front group: “The Vets Group That Fights Against Veterans.”
Additional background on CVA’s VA health care privatization advocacy:
Concerned Veterans For America If For Privatizing Veterans’ Health Care
CVA’S VETERANS INDEPENDENCE ACT WOULD SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE CARE FOR VETERANS AND CONVERT THE VA INTO A NONPROFIT
Concerned Veterans For America Released Its Final VA Report, Recommending Reforms Collectively Titled “The Veterans Independence Act.” According to a press release from Concerned Veterans for America, “Today, Concerned Veterans for America’s (CVA) Fixing Veterans Health Care Taskforce released its final policy report focusing on reforms to the delivery of veterans’ health care. The reforms, which are collectively entitled the Veterans Independence Act, will be unveiled and discussed at CVA’s Fixing Veterans Health Care summit today in Washington, D.C. The full report can be viewed here.” [Concerned Veterans For America Press Release, 2/26/15]
CVA Recommended Converting The Current “VHA Integrated Health Care System” Into A Government-Chartered Non-Profit Corporation. According to a press release from Concerned Veterans for America, “The Veterans Independence Act would make four key reforms to the delivery of veterans health care: 1. Separate the VHA’s payor and provider functions and convert the current VHA integrated health care system into a government-charted [sic] nonprofit corporation.” [Concerned Veterans For America Press Release, 2/26/15]
CVA Recommended Creating “A Premium-Support Private Insurance Option For Eligible Veterans Who Want To Access Care In The Private Sector.”According to a press release from Concerned Veterans for America, “The Veterans Independence Act would make four key reforms to the delivery of veterans health care: […] 2. Create a premium-support private insurance option for eligible veterans who want to access care in the private sector.” [Concerned Veterans For America Press Release, 2/26/15]
- WBNS-10TV Ohio: CVA’s VA Idea Was “Similar To School Vouchers.” According to WBNS-10TV, “The idea is similar to school vouchers. Parents get public money to pay for either public or private school. The idea would be the same for the VA: allowing patients to see either public or private doctors.” [10tv.com, 3/30/15]
Stars And Stripes: Concerned Veterans For America “Is Testing Its Clout With A Radical Plan Unveiled Thursday To Largely Privatize VA Health Care.” According to Stars and Stripes, “ A conservative veterans group is testing its clout with a radical plan unveiled Thursday to largely privatize VA health care. Concerned Veterans for America is calling for the Veterans Health Administration — the wing of the VA that oversees health care — to be turned into an ‘independent, government-chartered nonprofit corporation.’” ” [Stars and Stripes, 2/26/15]
Most Veterans Service Organizations Have Generally Been Cool To CVA’s Privatization Plans.
Stars And Stripes: “Most Veterans Service Organizations Skipped” The CVA Event “And Have Generally Been Cool To Privatization Plans.” According to Stars and Stripes, “Most veterans service organizations skipped the [CVA] event and have generally been cool to privatization plans.” [Stars and Stripes, 2/26/15]
USA Today: “The American Legion Made Clear…That It Would Not Back The Plan, Saying It Opposes Privatization And Vouchers As A Long-Term Solution.” According to USA Today, “The American Legion made clear in a statement Thursday that it would not back the plan, saying it opposes privatization and vouchers as a long-term solution.” [USA Today,2/26/15]
Paralyzed Veterans Of America Deputy Executive Director Sherman Gillums Jr.: “The Protections Veterans Now Have In The VA System, Particularly When Health Care Goes Awry, Do Not Exist In The Private Sector.” According to Stars and Stripes, “‘The protections veterans now have in the VA system, particularly when health care goes awry, do not exist in the private sector,’ Paralyzed Veterans of America deputy executive director Sherman Gillums Jr. said in a statement. ‘Privatizing health care for veterans will create a cottage industry for ambulance chasers who will be the only available option for veterans with medical malpractices cases.’” [Stars and Stripes, 2/26/15]
CVA’s “Proposed Premium Support System” Would Force “Most Veterans To Pay Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Private Health Care” And Cause “One-Fifth Of Future Veterans” To Be Ineligible For VA Care”
CVA’s “Proposed Premium Support System” Forces “Most Veterans To Pay Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Private Health Care.” According to a FAQ on Fixing Veterans Health Care from Concerned Veterans for America, “Q: Why does the proposed premium support system force most veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for private health care? Didn’t veterans earn free health care through their military service? A: Many veterans are already forced to pay co-pays through the current VA health care system for certain medical services. Cost-sharing is already in effect in the current system. In fact, under the Veteran Independence Act, veterans who use the independent VACO will not have to pay any copays or deductibles.” [FAQ – cv4a.org, accessed 2/26/15]
USA Today: CVA’s Proposed Reforms, “If Enacted Into Law, Would Affect America’s Roughly 22 Million Veterans Dramatically… Repercussions Would Be Even More Profound For Future Veterans.” According to USA Today, “The reform measures, if enacted into law, would affect America’s roughly 22 million veterans dramatically, especially the 8.5 million enrolled for care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Repercussions would be even more profound for future veterans. Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative non-profit, sponsored the study called ‘Fixing Veterans Health Care’ amid a crisis in VA health-care services.” [USA Today, 2/26/15]
One-Fifth Of Future Veterans Would Not Be Eligible For VA Care Under The CVA Plan. According to USA Today, “Nearly one-fifth of future veterans — those in the lowest VA benefit levels, Priorities 7 and 8 — would not be eligible under the new system.” [USA Today, 2/26/15]
CVA’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FEATURED AN INTERVIEW WITH CVA’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TITLED “TIME TO PRIVATIZE VETS’ HEALTHCARE?”
CVA’S YouTube Channel Featured An Interview With CVA’s Executive Director Titled “Time To Privatize Vets’ Healthcare?” According to CVA’s YouTube channel, the group titled a Fox Business interview with CVA Executive Director Darin Selnick as “Willis Report | Time to privatize vets’ healthcare?” [Willis Report – Fox Business via CVA YouTube Channel, 5/29/14]
CVA YouTube Video Description: “Darin Selnick Joins The Willis Report On Fox Business Network To Talk About The Possibility Of Privatizing Health Care For Vets.”According to CVA’s YouTube channel, the group described a Fox Business interview with CVA Executive Director Darin Selnick as, “Darin Selnick joins the Willis Report on Fox Business Network to talk about the possibility of privatizing health care for vets in the midst of a Department of Veterans Affairs scandal.” [Willis Report – Fox Business via CVA YouTube Channel, 5/29/14]
CNN’s Post Debate Fact Check Confirmed CVA’s Privatization Mission
Sanders Was Correct In Saying That CVA Promotes Privatizing The VA. According to CNN, “Discussing the need for reforms improving access to care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Sanders said that a group funded by the Koch brothers is promoting the privatization of the agency. An organization called Concerned Veterans for America is sanctioned by the influential conservative siblings, Sanders said. […] Sanders is correct in describing the group’s Koch lineage and its intent. Our verdict is true.” [CNN, 2/5/16]