ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — For millions of veterans living in rural America, the challenges of accessing an overburdened and scandal-plagued health care system go beyond having to wait months to land an appointment. Lawmakers in some states have been talking about how to best fill the gaps, and the Veterans Affairs Department has been working to expand transportation options throughout its system, but New Mexico — one of the largest and most rural states — has yet to make the list. Many veterans who call southern New Mexico's remote stretches of desert home or those scattered across the northern mountains depend on volunteers to drive them. Allegations of secret waiting lists at VA centers across the country, whistle-blower complaints regarding rigged scheduling practices, patient deaths and complaints from veterans about delayed and uncompassionate care have prompted national uproar. The agency created an office of rural health in 2007 to boost telemedicine opportunities and expand primary care programs in rural areas. Analysts there told state lawmakers the only organized transportation to a VA medical center from many rural counties was the DAV van system or other volunteers. "The need for reliable transportation is compounded due to limitations on the number and frequency of medical appointments that can be accommodated within the VA medical system," the analysts said.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 17 hours ago.
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