NAVAPD Winter Reflections

Dear NAVAPD Members:

What a long, strange election season it’s been. We likely will still see significant change in the veterans’ landscape in Congress next year, as new congressional members will be added to Veterans Affairs’ Committees and Subcommittees.  As you are aware, all congressional DC office buildings remain closed, so visiting with the various congressional members and staffs remains difficult.  However, we are committed to building new relationships with their offices to continue NAVAPD’s work on Capitol Hill. 

As we begin 2021, I ask all of you to keep in mind NAVAPD’s mission to deliver the very best healthcare to veterans.  Looking back at 2020 it has been a difficult year for everyone but I am optimistic about 2021.

The VA budget will likely depend on the short term continuing resolution, and we will keep you updated.  Of tremendous importance is the progress on the “NEW VA Electronic Record System,” as the rollout has begun.  One of NAVAPD’s objectives for 2021 is to find ways to improve the last VA pay legislation.  As you know, increasing the compensation for VA medical professionals were significant legislative victories for NAVAPD on behalf of our membership.

It is hard to believe, but about five years ago, (January 21, 2016) I testified before the Commission on Care regarding VA “workforce perspectives” and stated that NAVAPD believes that a key means of enhancing the care of the Veterans is by employing the best physicians, dentists and podiatrists.  To that end, we work to ensure that physicians and dentists are enabled to positively influence care; that the professional working conditions encourage VA physicians and dentists to increase access to high-quality health care for our veterans; and that incentives assure that the best physicians and dentists are attracted to the VA health care system.  NAVAPD believes it is essential for physicians and dentists to be in charge of decisions regarding delivery and quality of care.

Although we always have concerns with the ever-growing, dysfunctional bureaucracy within the VA, the increase of non-physicians in positions that influence medical care decisions is something we will continue to fight.  The biggest barriers to the VA attracting, hiring, and keeping the best physicians, podiatrists and dentists are the tendencies toward marginalizing their expertise, and the disenfranchisement from overall patient care.  Important care needs — psychiatric, internal medicine, neurology, and others specific to veteran populations — are being handled by nurse practitioners and pharmacists, rather than well-trained physicians who specialize in veteran health care.  This is another issue we anticipate our work will grow stronger throughout this year and next.

Let me close by thanking you for your dedication and your continued efforts to provide veterans with safe, reliable and dependable healthcare and you support of NAVAPD.  If you have not already, please consider renewing your NAVAPD membership or joining in 2021.

NAVAPD is your only voice in Washington, DC, and we will continue to fight for our members and for the best VA health care.  At NAVAPD, we appreciate having your vote of confidence, and together our voices continue to be heard.

Dr. Samuel V. Spagnolo