I think Santorum had the suggestion to close down most VA hospitals, keep the best open as specialty centers dealing with amputations, rehabilitation, PTSD, and other conditions more common to the military, and provide Medicare-type coverage to the other eligible veterans so they can be treated by private-sector doctors and hospitals. That sounds like a solution to me.
Re #5, I’ve advocated that for years. My VA cardiologist is at the V.A. one day every 2 weeks.