‘Managing’ services for vets

By Richard E. Law, Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 | 2:01 a.m.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee proposes to “raise awareness and develop legislation in support of the millions of military and veteran caregivers tending to their ill and injured warriors at home.”

What a godsend this could be, to just restructure the funds now distributed through private facilities: TRICARE-managed care support contractors or VA Southern Nevada Health Care System.

But these “private facilities” may be too deeply imbedded within the laws of each state for penetration.

Some 50 or 60 years ago, some “smart investors” were busily starting up nursing homes and retirement homes, with operations lasting only until authorities could mercifully shut them down. Something had to be done.

With help from the few actual nursing homes, Nevada responded through legislative action creating “managed health care services” and “health care staffing regulations.” These codified and numbered “Nevada Revised Statutes” work as intended. Even to the advantage of the few established facilities.