Despite the Trump administration claiming they will privatize veteran healthcare, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, David J. Shulkin, MD, said he plans to reform, not private healthcare, according to the New York Times.
Here are four things to know:
1. During his Senate confirmation meeting on Feb. 1, 2017, Dr. Shulkin said, "The VA is a unique national resource that is worth saving. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized under my watch."
2. Dr. Shulkin is presently the under secretary of health for the VA, with many saying he has made real improvements for veterans, NYT reports. He oversaw the hiring of more than 10,000 physicians and nurses over the past 18 months and authorized more than three million appointments with private providers.
3. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) asked Dr. Shulkin during the hearing if President Trump said Dr. Shulkin had to agree to preconditions about privatizing veterans' healthcare before taking the offer, to which Dr. Shulkin said there were no preconditions and "He [Trump] knows I would have to follow my values."
4. Throughout his presidential campaign, President Trump referred to the VA as a "disaster" and said he planned to give all veterans the option for private healthcare, although Trump made no promise to privatize healthcare.