THE VA IS LOOKING FOR NEW LEADERS IN CRITICAL ROLES FOR VETERAN HEALTHCARE AND BENEFITS
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to undertake many different changes, and now, new leadership is needed. A dedicated effort to bring leadership to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is underway, with commissions being created for the job at hand.
The VHA and VBA Need New Leaders
Resources for finding new leaders of the VHA and VBA are being used by commissions tasked with the responsibility. VA Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D., will serve as the Chairman of both.
Those picked by the commissions will need to be nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate before anything is official.
Under Secretary for Health
The role of the VA’s Under Secretary for Health is a big one, as leadership is responsible for overseeing the largest healthcare system in the United States.
That means managing more than 1,300 healthcare facilities and ensuring Veterans have options, even beyond the VA, while making sure the VA can sustain itself.
Complicated feels like an oversimplification of the task at hand, and yet, it’s perfectly fitting for what the role will be dealing with.
Whoever takes on the role will also be responsible for the equality of healthcare that Veterans receive, by leading VA staff training, dictating where research will go for the future of medicine, and having effective plans in case of an emergency.
Right now, Dr. Steven Lieberman is taking on the role, serving as the acting Under Secretary, and whoever gets the job on a permanent basis will have to meet certain requirements.
The law requires anyone taking on the VHA’s role to have a strong background in healthcare, policy, and budget management. Additionally, experience working with programs focused on Veterans is also a requirement.
Under Secretary for Benefits
Healthcare is a major part of the VA, but the benefits Veterans have earned don’t stop there.
Furthermore, their relationship with how Vets receive care is an ever-growing relationship that continues to become more complex.
This is why new leadership for the VBA is so important. The Under Secretary for Benefits will have to ensure that Veterans and their families are receiving the right access to the support and services they’ve earned.
Everything from the claims process to education benefits to VA home loans and much more falls under the scope of the position. This includes helping warfighters transition into civilian life once more.
As it stands, Michael Frueh is taking on the role until the government can fill the position.
New VHA and VBA Leaders Face a Changing Organization
How these new leaders will pan out could be anyone’s guess; however, the Trump administration has been busy silencing anyone who disagrees with anything on their agenda.
In other words, expect more of the same as the VA continues to reform itself, affecting healthcare for the Veterans and military community at large, which rely on its services. This includes:
- The elimination of healthcare services for transgender Veterans.
- Ending job opportunities for remote workers by demanding a return to work in the office for VA employees.
- Pushing hundreds of millions of dollars to directly support VA beneficiaries, instead of using these resources for less essential reasons.
- A focus on increasing resources for Vets who are paralyzed or amputees.
- Managing record levels of disability claims.
- Trying, yet again, to make an integrated electronic health record system work correctly, after years of issues and delays.
- Reversing policies that help minorities.
There’s a lot going on, and the call for new leadership will have plenty to navigate.
Veterans should remain vigilant in watching who does end up with these roles, as well as holding them accountable to provide the best possible care for those who rightfully deserve it.
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