VA Secretary to Meet with San Diego, LA Mayors

VA Secretary Bob McDonald is in Southern California this week to meet with mayors of San Diego and Los Angeles as part of the Obama administration’s push to end veteran homelessness.

McDonald met with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Tuesday and plans to meet with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Wednesday to discuss how their cities are reaching the goal - eliminating veteran homelessness by the end of the year.

“We’re making good progress but there’s a lot more work to do,” he told a group of veterans in San Diego Tuesday.

McDonald outlined many issues the VA is facing to representatives of from Paralyzed Veterans of America at the organization’s annual convention.

The Veterans Administration system is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to what’s wrong with the health care system in the U.S.

“If you want to find out what’s wrong with American medicine, or what will be wrong in the future, learn about what’s wrong with the VA,” he said.

He said the VA can play a key role to establish new medical schools and new residencies in order to train the doctors needed to fill thousands of primary care physician positions and other specialties.

He also addressed the controversy last year involving timely access to services through the VA system. He said the backlog of medical claims for veterans is down 75 percent.

Medical care for veterans is improving but much more investment needs to prepare for the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, McDonald told the group.

“You've got to build the capability today,” McDonald said explaining that he’s fighting Congress to avoid proposed budget cuts.

The total number of veterans in the U.S. may be declining but the number of issues per veteran is increasing, he said.
 

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