STOCKTON —
The Veterans Administration is doing its best to regain the confidence of vets who rely on VA hospitals and clinics by holding town hall sessions to answer questions about reforms to the scandal-ridden system.
At one such townhall, vets were frustrated with the newly installed Choice Program, where vets who can’t get timely appointments with doctors or who live farther than 40 miles from a VA medical facility can see non-VA doctors.
But vets like Ken Ehman say not enough doctors are in the program, and it is plagued by administrative hiccups.
“Many appointments are 30-60 days out. You call them up and many of them don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Ehman.
While construction to expand facilities to serve San Joaquin Valley vets is now funded after years of delays, some aren’t ready to concede that things are moving forward. They want to see the money materialize.
“There’s the possibility that it may get redirected. You have to keep the foot on their throat,” said Henry Adame who is with the District 11 American Legion.
The message by VA administrators at the town hall: construction to expand facilities is on track and reducing appointment wait times is now a national priority.
