title: The VA on the firing line. Veterans groups oppose privatization despite a dwindling patient population, high costs.
abstract: Demographic trends raise some uncomfortable questions for the VA and Congress. For example, should American taxpayers continue financing a government-owned and -operated healthcare system that spends $17.3 billion a year and serves a shrinking population, when the government could buy the same care in the private sector? Some say the solution is to privatize the VA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011057:Politics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011332:Privatization; D012954:Societies, Hospital; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs