VA and military health system are very unique in that all of the health care professionals are on salary -- whether they see 10 patients or 20 patients -- they get the same pay month in and month out. No incentives for running unnecessary tests. They also don't get kickbacks from the pharmacuetical industry because they can only use the drugs approved by VA. VA and the military health system are truly health care providers. Medicare isn't but rather simply a health insurance company!