The TRUTH About VA Fraud & How Doug Collins Is Improving Veteran Care | Unsubscribe Podcast Ep 270

Secretary Doug Collins inherited a VA with significant operational challenges, including an inability to accurately count its 460,000 employees or determine where they were needed. The agency faced over 260,000 backlogged disability claims (over 125 days old) and a million pending claims. Through a 'right-sizing' effort, including removing 26,000 unfilled positions from the manning document, the VA dramatically reduced backlogged claims to approximately 70,000 and the average completion time to 77 days. Total pending claims dropped to 500,000. This was achieved by focusing on efficient resource allocation rather than simply increasing budgets.

Collins states, 'When I got there, I had no idea how many people was in the department... Took him a week and a half later to get back cuz we didn't know.' (00:43:31) He adds, 'We had 260,000 backlogged claim over 260,000 backlogged disability claims when I first stepped in... we're at a little over 70,000 backlog claims. We're at 77 days to complete and over a million has dropped down to 500,000.' (00:48:17, 00:48:46)

A common misconception, particularly online, is that VA disability ratings imply an inability to work or are fraudulent if a veteran is employed. Collins clarifies that VA disability is compensation for service-connected injuries that lead to a 'lower standard of life,' such as messed-up knees, bad hearing, or PTSD. It is the federal government's mechanism to make veterans 'whole' for injuries sustained in service, as service members cannot sue the government like civilians can their employers. A 100% disability rating does not mean a veteran is bedridden; it's a statutory compensation for earned injuries.

Collins states, 'if they intentionally have doctorred records or anything else, then it is. But the what we do in disability is a lot of statutory here's our boundaries... If you served, you meet the issues that happen. That is not fraud.' (01:20:49) He further explains, '100% disabled doesn't mean you can't get off of bed.' (01:24:59)

The VA is taking a leading role in exploring and implementing psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans' mental health. They are currently conducting veteran-only MDMA treatments, and already utilize ketamine and psilocybin. The administration is preparing for wider availability of MDMA and psilocybin, collaborating with the FDA and other agencies to establish parameters and gather data. Collins emphasizes that these are not casual treatments but involve extensive clinical hours and professional oversight, like 8-10 hours in a room with psychiatrists for MDMA, to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Collins notes, 'We've increased our MDMA. We're actually doing our veteran only MDMA treatment right now... We already do ketamine. We already do psilocybin.' (01:50:39) He adds, 'MDMA in particular is 120 clinical hours per veteran. That's a lot. This is not walk up to the door, get some, you know, get some medicine, get high, and go home.' (01:51:40)

A significant and disturbing statistic reveals that 60% of veterans who die by suicide in the U.S. had no contact with the VA. This highlights a critical gap in outreach and access to mental health services. Collins attributes this to veterans being scared, unwilling to seek help, or influenced by negative perceptions of the VA. He stresses the importance of veterans connecting with the VA, even for basic services, to establish a record and access support when needed, emphasizing that 'one is too many' and that help is available.

Collins states, '60% of death by of veterans in this country have not been touched with the VA. They've had no contact with the VA. 60% of veterans who take their own life had no contact with the VA.' (01:29:26) He urges, 'just get it there because if you need help, if one day you wake up and you're not feeling good... somebody will talk to you.' (01:32:23)