David Shulkin, MD, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, said this week he will not privatize healthcare, reports The New York Times.
During his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Dr. Shulkin indicated he would instead seek to reform veterans' healthcare.
"VA is a unique national resource that is worth saving," Dr. Shulkin told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, according to The New York Times. He added, "The Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized under my watch."
Dr. Shulkin currently serves as under secretary for health at the VA, a position he was appointed to by former President Barack Obama amid the ongoing challenge to address major wait time issues within the agency's health system. Prior to joining the VA, he was president of Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center and its Goryeb Children's Hospital and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, all of which are part of Morristown.-based Atlantic Health System. He also served as president and CEO of New York City-based Beth Israel Medical Center from 2005 to 2009.
Veterans groups and members of Congress have touted Dr. Shulkin with making progress in improving veterans' healthcare, and he has emerged as a consensus candidate among lawmakers, according to the report.
During his confirmation hearings, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., pressed Dr. Shulkin on whether the president made him agree to "preconditions" about privatizing veterans' healthcare before offering him the head VA position, reports The New York Times.
Dr. Shulkin responded by saying said he and President Trump had discussed the issue, but there were no preconditions, according to the report. "He knows I would have to follow my values," he added.
Dr. Shulkin has vocalized support for increasing private sector care, according to the report, but has said VA physicians should make the decision rather than veterans.