KOAA - Discussion Aims to Improve Health Care for Veterans

News Article

By Andy Koen

Shorter wait times and better treatment of veterans were two main topics on the minds of participants at a round table discussion hosted by Congressman Doug Lamborn at the Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence Monday.

"I think it's imperative that we in the community embrace our veterans and put our love, our grace, and our arms around them and show them the love that they deserve," said David Gambrell, who served with Army's 101st Airborne during the Iraq Invasion.

Lamborn invited his colleague Rep. Mike Coffman from the 6th Congressional District to meet with veterans, local health providers, and veterans' groups all to get a better sense of the problems they face as patients of the Veterans Administration health care system.

"Our veterans don't deserve to have to go through the long wait times. The providers shouldn't have to have their reimbursement problems. There's just too many people falling through the cracks and it should never happen," Lamborn said.

Lamborn expressed frustration about the government's lack of discipline toward bad actors tied to the wait time scandal.

"I think that the bottom line is that we have to have major reform within the VA," Lamborn said.

Members of the US House of Representatives have passed some reform bills aimed at improving the quality of care veterans receive through the VA, but these bills have unfortunately stalled in the Senate.

While the process of getting care is often frustrating for veterans, Gambrell told us there's no point in stewing about it.

"In order for us to get that ball rolling with the VA, we have to be mindful in our own approach because change makes change," Gambrell said.

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