Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets, now in their sixties and early seventies, are carrying a dangerous parasite picked up in Asia called liver fluke. Many don't know it, but it's a ticking time bomb likely to kill them.
President Trump just signed the Mission Act, which is supposed to help ailing vets get prompt care, including seeing a civilian doctor on Uncle Sam's tab. Don't count on it to help these vets.
The fine print shows that vets are guaranteed nothing. The VA Secretary is simply empowered to make rules for who gets civilian care. Though Trump and his pick for Secretary, Robert Wilkie, favor making it easy for vets, Wilkie's rules could last only as long as Wilkie remains Secretary.Worse, they don't go into effect for two and a half years, too late for many Vietnam vets with liver fluke.
