House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Approves Landmark Bills
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), approved fourteen bills to improve services and benefits provided for America’s veterans at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
“Caring for veterans is an ongoing cost of war and the measures passed today will have an impact on our veterans and their dependents,” said Chairman Filner. “I would like to thank the Subcommittee Chairs and the Ranking Members for their hard work and strong bipartisan leadership in crafting these bills that we have passed today.”
Five of the bills passed today address the health care needs of veterans, including a bill to authorize major medical facility projects and leases for Fiscal Year 2009.
1. H.R. 2790, as amended - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health.
2. H.R. 3819 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans receiving emergency treatment in non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for such treatment until such veterans are transferred to Department facilities, and for other purposes.
3. H.R. 5729 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide comprehensive health care to children of Vietnam veterans born with Spina Bifida, and for other purposes. (Passed with amendment)
4. H.R. 5554, as amended - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs for substance use disorders, and for other purposes.
5. H.R. 5856 – To authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009, and for other purposes.
The Committee took great strides to improve readjustment services and benefits for troops and veterans with the passage of seven bills. The Committee approved legislation to improve the VA home loan program, including H.R. 4883 and H.R. 4884, both introduced by Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. H.R. 4883 would prohibit foreclosure of property owned by a service member for one year following a period of military service. H.R. 4884, the Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act of 2008, would increase the maximum home loan guarantee amount and reduce the home loan funding fees for veterans. The Committee also approved H.R. 5684, a bill to improve veterans’ educational benefits for active duty troops. The author of the bill, Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin, accepted an amendment to also include educational benefit increases for members of the National Guard and Reserve.
6. H.R. 3681 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary. (Passed with amendments)
7. H.R. 3889, as amended – To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary. (Passed with amendment)
8. H.R. 4883 – To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a limitation on the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property owned by a servicemember during the one-year period following the servicemember's period of military service. (Passed with amendment)
9. H.R. 4884, as amended – To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the home loan guaranty programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Passed with amendment)
10. H.R. 4889, as amended – To amend title 38, United States Code, to recodify as part of that title chapter 1607 of title 10, United States Code.
11. H.R. 5664, as amended – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six years the plans and specifications for specially adapted housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary.
12. H.R. 5684, as amended – To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Passed with amendments)
The final two bills approved by the Committee would provide a cost-of-living adjustment for service-connected disability compensation rates and would modernize the disability claims processing system at the VA.
13. H.R. 5826 – To increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
14. H.R. 5892 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors, and for other purposes.
“This Committee continues to take bold action to keep the promises that have been made to our veterans,” said Chairman Filner. “I thank my colleagues for their persistent efforts to make positive differences in the lives of our veterans.”
House Veterans’ Affairs Com. Approves Landmark Bills
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
House Veterans’ Affairs Com. Approves Landmark Bills
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
The Truth About Veterans’ Suicides
The Truth About Veterans’ Suicides
Chairman Filner Calls on Secretary Peake for a plan of action: “Until you tell us what you need to address the epidemic of veteran suicide, all this talk about data is meaningless”
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), held a hearing to learn the truth about veterans’ suicides. Lawmakers questioned whether bureaucrats at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have attempted to manipulate suicide data to portray a lesser problem. Chairman Filner called for VA Secretary Peake to remove Dr. Kussman and Dr. Katz from their positions at the VA for their role in obfuscating veteran suicide data.
“The first step in addressing a problem is to understand the scope and extent of the problem,” commented Chairman Filner. “In the case of the VA and the epidemic of veteran suicides, either the VA has not adequately attempted to determine the scope of the problem, which is an indictment of the VA’s basic competence, or the VA knows the extent of the problem, but has attempted to obfuscate and minimize the problem to veterans, Congress, and the American people, which is an indictment of the leadership of the entire Department.”
In November 2007, CBS News aired a story entitled “Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans” and found that veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 than non-veterans. The news report showed that veterans aged 20 through 24 had an extremely high proportional rate of suicide compared to civilians the same age. Veterans’ advocates called on the VA to address what they deemed an epidemic of mental health problems.
On December 12, 2007, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing entitled “Stopping Suicides: Mental Health Challenges within the Department of Veterans Affairs.” At the hearing, Dr. Ira Katz, a representative from the VA, downplayed the CBS News report and stated, “their number for veteran suicides in not, in fact, an accurate reflection of the rates of suicide.” Dr. Katz also stressed a low-rate of veteran suicide, stating that “from the beginning of the war through the end of 2005 there were 144 known suicides among these new veterans.”
At the December hearing, Chairman Filner stated that suicide can be a very difficult public health crisis to gauge. He stressed that perfect statistics were not essential to aggressively responding to this issue and he expressed concern about the lack of an immediate and urgent response from the VA.
Just three days after the hearing, VA’s Under Secretary for Health Dr. Kussman, referred to a newspaper article in an internal e-mail and wrote that “18 veterans kill themselves every day and this is confirmed by the VA’s own statistics. Is that true? Sounds awful but if one is considering 24 million veterans.” That same day, Dr. Katz responded: “There are about 18 suicides per day among America’s 25 million veterans. This follows from CDC findings that 20% of suicides are among veterans it is supported by CBS numbers.”
In February 2008, Dr. Katz sent an e-mail stating “Shh! – Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1000 suicide attempts per month among the veterans we see in our medical facilities. Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?”
On April 21, 2008, CBS News aired another story in their series, “VA Hid Suicide Risk, Internal E-Mails Show.” This story exposed the internal e-mails that had been entered as evidence in an ongoing trial.
“Either Dr. Katz knew that the CBS figures were indeed an accurate reflection of the rates of suicide at the December hearing or he had a sudden epiphany just three days later,” exclaimed Chairman Filner. “It angers me that there was data within the VA that seemed to dispute what we were told in the hearing in December. Nearly five months later, we are again holding a hearing on the tragic issue of suicide among our veterans and what the VA is doing to address what is clearly an epidemic.”
The opening statements of all the witnesses and a link to the webcast are available on the Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hear ... newsid=237.
Witnesses:
Panel 1
· The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., The Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by
o Gerald Cross, M.D., Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration
o Ira Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health, Veterans Health Administration
Panel 2
· Stephen L. Rathbun, Ph.D., Interim Head & Associate Professor of Biostatistics, University of Georgia
· M. David Rudd, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Chair, Texas Tech University
· Ronald William Maris, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina
Panel 3
· Michael Shepherd, M.D., Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Opening Statement of Chairman Filner:
“We should all be angry at what has gone on here, at what looks like posturing before this Committee. Effective oversight can only work with mutual respect for each other. Presumably, we both want to do the best job we can for veterans. We must also respect the facts and the truth – and your staff exhibited neither. If the testimony that Katz gave last December was wrong, why wasn’t this Committee notified? Why didn’t you tell that you found new statistics and you are checking them out?
“What we see is a pattern, Mr. Secretary, that we have seen going back to the days of atomic testing, Agent Orange, depleted uranium, Persian Gulf Illness, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, homelessness. The pattern is deny, deny, deny. Then when facts seemingly come to disagree with the denial, you cover-up, cover-up, cover-up. Then, when the cover-up doesn’t work anymore, you admit a little bit and underplay the problem. And then, finally, you admit it’s a problem, and then way after the fact, you try to come to grips with it. We have seen it again and again and again.
“This is not a bureaucratic situation that only concerns numbers – this is a matter of life and death for the veterans that we are responsible for. If we do not admit to the problem or try to understand the problem, then the problem will continue and people will die. If that isn’t criminal negligence, than what is?”
Response of Chairman Filner to the testimony of Secretary Peake and Dr. Katz:
“Today, many Members of this Committee asked you how they can help. Mr. Secretary, you didn’t ask us for one thing. Who is better at outreach than Members of Congress? We know these stories, we are in touch with the veterans in our district everyday.
“Dr. Katz, you are not performing your job in an effective way. You’re not very helpful. You are the expert at the VA and you are not acting in a transparent way. If Congress or the press is not asking the right questions, help us out. You are just sitting there with all this data and only releasing bits and pieces in a secretive manner.
“Mr. Secretary, the data we have discussed here today is a symptom of inadequate mental health treatment. Suicide is the ultimate and tragic symptom of this problem, but other symptoms include domestic violence, homicide, substance use, PTSD, homelessness, marital difficulties. And we have to get at this problem. Right now, we are not doing the job.
“If you have 1,000 suicide attempts per month, and you said it could be more, we have some real serious issues. And you never asked us for anything, acting as if you have everything under control. And Mr. Secretary, you don’t have it under control.
“We are letting tens of thousands out of the service without an adequate or thorough diagnosis. We need mandatory medical evaluations by competent medical personnel. We have to make these evaluations mandatory, as a way to eliminate this stigma. In cooperation with the military, let’s get everyone the support system they need. Right now, we are not giving adequate diagnoses or treatment and that is the problem. Until you tell us what you need to solve this, all this talk about data is meaningless.
“Mr. Secretary, work with the Secretary of Defense and get us a plan to evaluate and diagnose every soldier for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.”
Chairman Filner Calls on Secretary Peake for a plan of action: “Until you tell us what you need to address the epidemic of veteran suicide, all this talk about data is meaningless”
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), held a hearing to learn the truth about veterans’ suicides. Lawmakers questioned whether bureaucrats at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have attempted to manipulate suicide data to portray a lesser problem. Chairman Filner called for VA Secretary Peake to remove Dr. Kussman and Dr. Katz from their positions at the VA for their role in obfuscating veteran suicide data.
“The first step in addressing a problem is to understand the scope and extent of the problem,” commented Chairman Filner. “In the case of the VA and the epidemic of veteran suicides, either the VA has not adequately attempted to determine the scope of the problem, which is an indictment of the VA’s basic competence, or the VA knows the extent of the problem, but has attempted to obfuscate and minimize the problem to veterans, Congress, and the American people, which is an indictment of the leadership of the entire Department.”
In November 2007, CBS News aired a story entitled “Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans” and found that veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 than non-veterans. The news report showed that veterans aged 20 through 24 had an extremely high proportional rate of suicide compared to civilians the same age. Veterans’ advocates called on the VA to address what they deemed an epidemic of mental health problems.
On December 12, 2007, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing entitled “Stopping Suicides: Mental Health Challenges within the Department of Veterans Affairs.” At the hearing, Dr. Ira Katz, a representative from the VA, downplayed the CBS News report and stated, “their number for veteran suicides in not, in fact, an accurate reflection of the rates of suicide.” Dr. Katz also stressed a low-rate of veteran suicide, stating that “from the beginning of the war through the end of 2005 there were 144 known suicides among these new veterans.”
At the December hearing, Chairman Filner stated that suicide can be a very difficult public health crisis to gauge. He stressed that perfect statistics were not essential to aggressively responding to this issue and he expressed concern about the lack of an immediate and urgent response from the VA.
Just three days after the hearing, VA’s Under Secretary for Health Dr. Kussman, referred to a newspaper article in an internal e-mail and wrote that “18 veterans kill themselves every day and this is confirmed by the VA’s own statistics. Is that true? Sounds awful but if one is considering 24 million veterans.” That same day, Dr. Katz responded: “There are about 18 suicides per day among America’s 25 million veterans. This follows from CDC findings that 20% of suicides are among veterans it is supported by CBS numbers.”
In February 2008, Dr. Katz sent an e-mail stating “Shh! – Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1000 suicide attempts per month among the veterans we see in our medical facilities. Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?”
On April 21, 2008, CBS News aired another story in their series, “VA Hid Suicide Risk, Internal E-Mails Show.” This story exposed the internal e-mails that had been entered as evidence in an ongoing trial.
“Either Dr. Katz knew that the CBS figures were indeed an accurate reflection of the rates of suicide at the December hearing or he had a sudden epiphany just three days later,” exclaimed Chairman Filner. “It angers me that there was data within the VA that seemed to dispute what we were told in the hearing in December. Nearly five months later, we are again holding a hearing on the tragic issue of suicide among our veterans and what the VA is doing to address what is clearly an epidemic.”
The opening statements of all the witnesses and a link to the webcast are available on the Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hear ... newsid=237.
Witnesses:
Panel 1
· The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., The Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by
o Gerald Cross, M.D., Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration
o Ira Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health, Veterans Health Administration
Panel 2
· Stephen L. Rathbun, Ph.D., Interim Head & Associate Professor of Biostatistics, University of Georgia
· M. David Rudd, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Chair, Texas Tech University
· Ronald William Maris, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina
Panel 3
· Michael Shepherd, M.D., Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Opening Statement of Chairman Filner:
“We should all be angry at what has gone on here, at what looks like posturing before this Committee. Effective oversight can only work with mutual respect for each other. Presumably, we both want to do the best job we can for veterans. We must also respect the facts and the truth – and your staff exhibited neither. If the testimony that Katz gave last December was wrong, why wasn’t this Committee notified? Why didn’t you tell that you found new statistics and you are checking them out?
“What we see is a pattern, Mr. Secretary, that we have seen going back to the days of atomic testing, Agent Orange, depleted uranium, Persian Gulf Illness, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, homelessness. The pattern is deny, deny, deny. Then when facts seemingly come to disagree with the denial, you cover-up, cover-up, cover-up. Then, when the cover-up doesn’t work anymore, you admit a little bit and underplay the problem. And then, finally, you admit it’s a problem, and then way after the fact, you try to come to grips with it. We have seen it again and again and again.
“This is not a bureaucratic situation that only concerns numbers – this is a matter of life and death for the veterans that we are responsible for. If we do not admit to the problem or try to understand the problem, then the problem will continue and people will die. If that isn’t criminal negligence, than what is?”
Response of Chairman Filner to the testimony of Secretary Peake and Dr. Katz:
“Today, many Members of this Committee asked you how they can help. Mr. Secretary, you didn’t ask us for one thing. Who is better at outreach than Members of Congress? We know these stories, we are in touch with the veterans in our district everyday.
“Dr. Katz, you are not performing your job in an effective way. You’re not very helpful. You are the expert at the VA and you are not acting in a transparent way. If Congress or the press is not asking the right questions, help us out. You are just sitting there with all this data and only releasing bits and pieces in a secretive manner.
“Mr. Secretary, the data we have discussed here today is a symptom of inadequate mental health treatment. Suicide is the ultimate and tragic symptom of this problem, but other symptoms include domestic violence, homicide, substance use, PTSD, homelessness, marital difficulties. And we have to get at this problem. Right now, we are not doing the job.
“If you have 1,000 suicide attempts per month, and you said it could be more, we have some real serious issues. And you never asked us for anything, acting as if you have everything under control. And Mr. Secretary, you don’t have it under control.
“We are letting tens of thousands out of the service without an adequate or thorough diagnosis. We need mandatory medical evaluations by competent medical personnel. We have to make these evaluations mandatory, as a way to eliminate this stigma. In cooperation with the military, let’s get everyone the support system they need. Right now, we are not giving adequate diagnoses or treatment and that is the problem. Until you tell us what you need to solve this, all this talk about data is meaningless.
“Mr. Secretary, work with the Secretary of Defense and get us a plan to evaluate and diagnose every soldier for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.”
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
VVA Nat. President On Vouchers For Homeless Vets...
VVA National President speak out on new vouchers for homeless veterans
Queens Chronical
04/17/2008
New Initiative To Reduce Number Of Homeless Vets
by Annmarie Fertoli , Assistant Editor
(Michael O’Kane) Mayor Michael Bloomberg, joined by U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake, far left, and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi, second from left.
A new veterans housing initiative will allocate 10,000 permanent housing vouchers — including approximately 1,000 in New York City alone — to public housing agencies nationwide, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi joined the mayor at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence in Long Island City on Wednesday morning to announce the joint initiative between the VA and HUD.
HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) is a $75 million dollar initiative. New York City has been awarded more than $9 million.
“We owe a debt of gratitude we are never able to to repay to our veterans,” Benardi said, adding that he hopes the vouchers will be “ready to go” by Memorial Day of this year.
Peake said that there has been a 40 percent decrease in the number of homeless veterans since 2001. “The path is in the right direction,” he said, but noted that with an estimated 154,000 veterans still living on the streets, more needs to be done.
HUD-VASH also includes a program to match public housing agencies with support services to provide more comprehensive care for veterans.
John Rowan, national president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, believes the counseling component is an important one, noting that many homeless veterans suffer from drug and alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rowan called the new housing initiative great, but that efforts can probably be doubled. He also expressed concern about proposed changes to the St. Albans Veterans Affairs Hospital, which Peake said he would tour later that day.
Proposed changes at the facility could include reducing its bed count, as well as leasing 25 acres of its property. Rowan said there is a great opportunity to develop additional services for veterans on site, like creating a hospice care center.
President George Bush plans to allocate an additional $75 million toward veteran housing initiatives in the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget.
Vietnam Veteran William Segarra, who attended Wednesday’s press conference, said he plans to apply for one of the new vouchers. He is currently living in transitional housing in Brooklyn, and called the new initiative “a wonderful idea for the city and homeless veterans.”
Air Force veteran Charles Witherspoon, who used to live at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence, agreed. He was finally able to obtain permanent housing through Section 8 after a year of sobriety, and has since earned several college degrees.
“I just cannot express how much it has meant to me to have my own apartment, my own home, my own base,” he said. “It’s been a true renaissance — my renaissance.”
Queens Chronical
04/17/2008
New Initiative To Reduce Number Of Homeless Vets
by Annmarie Fertoli , Assistant Editor
(Michael O’Kane) Mayor Michael Bloomberg, joined by U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake, far left, and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi, second from left.
A new veterans housing initiative will allocate 10,000 permanent housing vouchers — including approximately 1,000 in New York City alone — to public housing agencies nationwide, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi joined the mayor at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence in Long Island City on Wednesday morning to announce the joint initiative between the VA and HUD.
HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) is a $75 million dollar initiative. New York City has been awarded more than $9 million.
“We owe a debt of gratitude we are never able to to repay to our veterans,” Benardi said, adding that he hopes the vouchers will be “ready to go” by Memorial Day of this year.
Peake said that there has been a 40 percent decrease in the number of homeless veterans since 2001. “The path is in the right direction,” he said, but noted that with an estimated 154,000 veterans still living on the streets, more needs to be done.
HUD-VASH also includes a program to match public housing agencies with support services to provide more comprehensive care for veterans.
John Rowan, national president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, believes the counseling component is an important one, noting that many homeless veterans suffer from drug and alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rowan called the new housing initiative great, but that efforts can probably be doubled. He also expressed concern about proposed changes to the St. Albans Veterans Affairs Hospital, which Peake said he would tour later that day.
Proposed changes at the facility could include reducing its bed count, as well as leasing 25 acres of its property. Rowan said there is a great opportunity to develop additional services for veterans on site, like creating a hospice care center.
President George Bush plans to allocate an additional $75 million toward veteran housing initiatives in the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget.
Vietnam Veteran William Segarra, who attended Wednesday’s press conference, said he plans to apply for one of the new vouchers. He is currently living in transitional housing in Brooklyn, and called the new initiative “a wonderful idea for the city and homeless veterans.”
Air Force veteran Charles Witherspoon, who used to live at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence, agreed. He was finally able to obtain permanent housing through Section 8 after a year of sobriety, and has since earned several college degrees.
“I just cannot express how much it has meant to me to have my own apartment, my own home, my own base,” he said. “It’s been a true renaissance — my renaissance.”
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
$75 Million Program to Reduce Number of Homeless Vets...
VVA Homeless Veterans Committee worked with Congress to ensure passage of these vouchers for homeless veterans
FOR RELEASE
HUD: Donna White (202) 708-0685 Wednesday
VA: Alison Aikele (202) 461-7435 April 16, 2008
Mayor’s Office: Stu Loeser or Dawn Walker (212)788-2958
HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY BERNARDI, VA SECRETARY PEAKE AND MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCE HUD AND VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR AN ESTIMATED 10,000 HOMELESS VETERANS
$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide
$9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans and
fulfill recommendations of joint NYC/VA Task Force on ending veteran homelessness
NEW YORK – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Bernardi and Peake made the announcement with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a newly renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Queens, and emphasized the Federal and local government’s partnership to house and support America’s homeless veteran population.
New York City will receive approximately $9.4 million to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans. Their program will be administered by the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Homeless Services.
“We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation’s veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets,” said Bernardi. “This program is one opportunity to say, ‘Thank You’ and to make certain that we serve them as they once served us.”
“Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision -- that no one who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the streets,” said Peake. “We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units.”
“Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for veterans,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our partnership with the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country overseas – that we do not take their service for granted.”
HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area (see attached chart for a local breakdown of homeless veterans to be assisted). In addition, the VA and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.
HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management. New York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this criterion.
HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico. Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration’s proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding announced today to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.
Local communities or “Continuums of Care” that receive HUD homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to identify eligible participants. The VA will then screen homeless veterans to determine their eligibility. Those eligible vets will receive treatment and regular case management to retain the voucher. VA Medical Center case managers will also work closely with local housing agencies to help participants find suitable housing. Participating PHAs will also determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the HCV program.
New York City’s Department of Homeless Services will use the 1,000 vouchers, supplemental veterans treatment and case management services announced today to help achieve permanent and sustained housing status for all homeless veterans. In December 2006, the VA and the City of New York reached an historic agreement to address ending veteran homelessness in New York City. Under the agreement, the City vowed to place 100 veterans into permanent housing in 100 days, surpassing the goal with 135 veterans moving during that period, and subsequently succeeded in placing more than 400 veterans into homes of their own in 2007. The VA and the City also convened a joint Task Force that created a strategic plan to end veteran homelessness in New York City. Among the Task Force recommendations were the creation of a jointly operated VA/NYC multi-service center to serve as a one-stop site to access services for homeless veterans, scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008; the creation of a veteran-only SAFE HAVEN as an alternative to the shelter system to open in the Summer/Fall 2008 and veteran-specific, short-term housing site for those working towards permanent housing.
HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
Secretary James B. Peake, M.D. serves as the chair the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the federal coordinating body addressing issues of homelessness. Recently, VA announced a reduction of homeless veterans from more than 195,000 to about 154,000. Today, VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities or in VA residential treatment programs nationwide and recently announced $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers this year. The Department is the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless, including outreach and case management, treatment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing. As part of its homelessness programs, VA also supports special programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of those suffering from mental illness and addictive disorders.
For more information, visit VA’s grant and per diem program Web page at www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or contact VA’s grant and per diem program office toll free at 1-877-332-0334, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.
State
VA Medical Center Location*
Estimated # of homeless veterans to be assisted
Alaska Anchorage 35
Alabama Birmingham 105
Tuscaloosa 35
Tuskegee 35
Arkansas Little Rock 105
Fayetteville 35
Arizona Tucson 70
Phoenix 105
Prescott 35
California San Francisco 105
Greater Los Angeles 840
Loma Linda 35
Central CA Health Care System 35
Palo Alto 70
Northern CA Health Care System 35
San Diego 105
Long Beach 70
Colorado Denver 175
So. Colorado 35
Connecticut West Haven 70
District of Columbia Washington, DC 140
Delaware Wilmington 35
Florida Tampa 105
Orlando 70
W. Palm Beach 105
Bay Pines 105
Gainesville 140
Gulf Coast Health Care System 35
Miami 105
Georgia Augusta 35
Atlanta 350
Dublin 35
Hawaii Honolulu 70
Iowa Central Iowa 35
Iowa City 35
Idaho Boise 20
Chicago WS 105
Hines 70
N. Chicago 35
Indiana Indianapolis 70
N. Indiana 35
Kansas Topeka 35
Wichita 35
Leavenworth 105
Kentucky Louisville 70
Lexington 35
Louisiana Shreveport 35
New Orleans 140
Alexandria 35
Massachusetts Boston 105
Northampton 70
Bedford 70
Maryland Perry Point 70
Baltimore 105
Maine Togus 35
Michigan Ann Arbor Health Care System 70
Saginaw 35
Battle Creek 35
Detroit 105
Minnesota Minneapolis 70
Missouri Kansas City 70
St. Louis 35
Columbia 35
Mississippi Jackson 35
Montana Montana Health Care System 35
North Carolina Asheville 35
Durham 35
Salisbury 35
North Dakota Fargo 35
Nebraska Omaha 35
Gr. Nebraska 35
New Hampshire Manchester 35
New Jersey East Orange 35
Lyons 35
New Mexico New Mexico Health Care System 35
Nevada Sierra Nevada Health Care System 70
Southern Nevada Health Care System 105
New York Syracuse 35
Bronx 385
Brooklyn 455
New York 175
Albany 35
Canandaigua 35
Buffalo 35
Montrose 105
Northport 35
Ohio Columbus Outpatient Clinic 35
Cleveland 105
Cincinnati 70
Dayton 35
Chillicothe 35
Oklahoma Oklahoma City 35
Muskogee 35
Oregon Portland 70
Roseburg 35
White City 35
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 70
Philadelphia 105
Butler 35
Coatesville 105
Erie 35
Wilkes-Barre 35
Lebanon 70
Puerto Rico San Juan 20
Rhode Island Providence 35
South Carolina Charleston 70
Columbia 70
South Dakota Hot Springs 35
Ft. Meade 35
Tennessee Memphis 105
Mountain Home 70
Nashville 70
Texas San Antonio 70
Central Texas Health Care System 105
El Paso Outpatient Clinic 35
Houston 385
Dallas 105
Utah Salt Lake City 35
Virginia Hampton 140
Richmond 35
Salem 35
Vermont White River Junction 20
Washington Seattle 105
American Lake 35
Spokane 35
Walla Walla 70
Wisconsin Milwaukee 70
Tomah 35
West Virginia Huntington 35
Clarksburg 35
Martinsburg 35
Wyoming Cheyenne 35
Sheridan 35
TOTAL 11,105
* VA Medical Centers’ coverage areas often extend beyond the metropolitan areas in which they are located.
FOR RELEASE
HUD: Donna White (202) 708-0685 Wednesday
VA: Alison Aikele (202) 461-7435 April 16, 2008
Mayor’s Office: Stu Loeser or Dawn Walker (212)788-2958
HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY BERNARDI, VA SECRETARY PEAKE AND MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCE HUD AND VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR AN ESTIMATED 10,000 HOMELESS VETERANS
$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide
$9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans and
fulfill recommendations of joint NYC/VA Task Force on ending veteran homelessness
NEW YORK – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Bernardi and Peake made the announcement with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a newly renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Queens, and emphasized the Federal and local government’s partnership to house and support America’s homeless veteran population.
New York City will receive approximately $9.4 million to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans. Their program will be administered by the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Homeless Services.
“We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation’s veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets,” said Bernardi. “This program is one opportunity to say, ‘Thank You’ and to make certain that we serve them as they once served us.”
“Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision -- that no one who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the streets,” said Peake. “We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units.”
“Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for veterans,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our partnership with the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country overseas – that we do not take their service for granted.”
HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area (see attached chart for a local breakdown of homeless veterans to be assisted). In addition, the VA and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.
HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management. New York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this criterion.
HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico. Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration’s proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding announced today to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.
Local communities or “Continuums of Care” that receive HUD homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to identify eligible participants. The VA will then screen homeless veterans to determine their eligibility. Those eligible vets will receive treatment and regular case management to retain the voucher. VA Medical Center case managers will also work closely with local housing agencies to help participants find suitable housing. Participating PHAs will also determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the HCV program.
New York City’s Department of Homeless Services will use the 1,000 vouchers, supplemental veterans treatment and case management services announced today to help achieve permanent and sustained housing status for all homeless veterans. In December 2006, the VA and the City of New York reached an historic agreement to address ending veteran homelessness in New York City. Under the agreement, the City vowed to place 100 veterans into permanent housing in 100 days, surpassing the goal with 135 veterans moving during that period, and subsequently succeeded in placing more than 400 veterans into homes of their own in 2007. The VA and the City also convened a joint Task Force that created a strategic plan to end veteran homelessness in New York City. Among the Task Force recommendations were the creation of a jointly operated VA/NYC multi-service center to serve as a one-stop site to access services for homeless veterans, scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008; the creation of a veteran-only SAFE HAVEN as an alternative to the shelter system to open in the Summer/Fall 2008 and veteran-specific, short-term housing site for those working towards permanent housing.
HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
Secretary James B. Peake, M.D. serves as the chair the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the federal coordinating body addressing issues of homelessness. Recently, VA announced a reduction of homeless veterans from more than 195,000 to about 154,000. Today, VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities or in VA residential treatment programs nationwide and recently announced $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers this year. The Department is the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless, including outreach and case management, treatment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing. As part of its homelessness programs, VA also supports special programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of those suffering from mental illness and addictive disorders.
For more information, visit VA’s grant and per diem program Web page at www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or contact VA’s grant and per diem program office toll free at 1-877-332-0334, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.
State
VA Medical Center Location*
Estimated # of homeless veterans to be assisted
Alaska Anchorage 35
Alabama Birmingham 105
Tuscaloosa 35
Tuskegee 35
Arkansas Little Rock 105
Fayetteville 35
Arizona Tucson 70
Phoenix 105
Prescott 35
California San Francisco 105
Greater Los Angeles 840
Loma Linda 35
Central CA Health Care System 35
Palo Alto 70
Northern CA Health Care System 35
San Diego 105
Long Beach 70
Colorado Denver 175
So. Colorado 35
Connecticut West Haven 70
District of Columbia Washington, DC 140
Delaware Wilmington 35
Florida Tampa 105
Orlando 70
W. Palm Beach 105
Bay Pines 105
Gainesville 140
Gulf Coast Health Care System 35
Miami 105
Georgia Augusta 35
Atlanta 350
Dublin 35
Hawaii Honolulu 70
Iowa Central Iowa 35
Iowa City 35
Idaho Boise 20
Chicago WS 105
Hines 70
N. Chicago 35
Indiana Indianapolis 70
N. Indiana 35
Kansas Topeka 35
Wichita 35
Leavenworth 105
Kentucky Louisville 70
Lexington 35
Louisiana Shreveport 35
New Orleans 140
Alexandria 35
Massachusetts Boston 105
Northampton 70
Bedford 70
Maryland Perry Point 70
Baltimore 105
Maine Togus 35
Michigan Ann Arbor Health Care System 70
Saginaw 35
Battle Creek 35
Detroit 105
Minnesota Minneapolis 70
Missouri Kansas City 70
St. Louis 35
Columbia 35
Mississippi Jackson 35
Montana Montana Health Care System 35
North Carolina Asheville 35
Durham 35
Salisbury 35
North Dakota Fargo 35
Nebraska Omaha 35
Gr. Nebraska 35
New Hampshire Manchester 35
New Jersey East Orange 35
Lyons 35
New Mexico New Mexico Health Care System 35
Nevada Sierra Nevada Health Care System 70
Southern Nevada Health Care System 105
New York Syracuse 35
Bronx 385
Brooklyn 455
New York 175
Albany 35
Canandaigua 35
Buffalo 35
Montrose 105
Northport 35
Ohio Columbus Outpatient Clinic 35
Cleveland 105
Cincinnati 70
Dayton 35
Chillicothe 35
Oklahoma Oklahoma City 35
Muskogee 35
Oregon Portland 70
Roseburg 35
White City 35
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 70
Philadelphia 105
Butler 35
Coatesville 105
Erie 35
Wilkes-Barre 35
Lebanon 70
Puerto Rico San Juan 20
Rhode Island Providence 35
South Carolina Charleston 70
Columbia 70
South Dakota Hot Springs 35
Ft. Meade 35
Tennessee Memphis 105
Mountain Home 70
Nashville 70
Texas San Antonio 70
Central Texas Health Care System 105
El Paso Outpatient Clinic 35
Houston 385
Dallas 105
Utah Salt Lake City 35
Virginia Hampton 140
Richmond 35
Salem 35
Vermont White River Junction 20
Washington Seattle 105
American Lake 35
Spokane 35
Walla Walla 70
Wisconsin Milwaukee 70
Tomah 35
West Virginia Huntington 35
Clarksburg 35
Martinsburg 35
Wyoming Cheyenne 35
Sheridan 35
TOTAL 11,105
* VA Medical Centers’ coverage areas often extend beyond the metropolitan areas in which they are located.
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
Senate Vet Affairs Chair Calls For VA Official Resignation..
Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman call for VA top official resignation
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
AKAKA CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF VA MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER KATZ OVER ALLEGED COVERUP OF VETERANS’ SUICIDES
April 22, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.
"Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation," said Akaka.
Dr. Katz is VA's Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.
Chairman Akaka's letter is enclosed below:
Dear Dr. Kussman:
I am writing to request the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.
Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question by his response to the mental health needs of veterans, and in particular to veteran suicides. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation.
America's veterans deserve mental health care of the highest quality. Many veterans returning from combat have complex mental health needs, and VA must be fully able to meet those needs. VA cannot be complacent in its efforts to prevent veteran suicide. I look forward to working with you to provide veterans with the best services possible.
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Akaka
Chairman
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
AKAKA CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF VA MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER KATZ OVER ALLEGED COVERUP OF VETERANS’ SUICIDES
April 22, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.
"Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation," said Akaka.
Dr. Katz is VA's Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.
Chairman Akaka's letter is enclosed below:
Dear Dr. Kussman:
I am writing to request the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health.
Dr. Katz's personal conduct and professional judgment have been called into question by his response to the mental health needs of veterans, and in particular to veteran suicides. I believe veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, would be best served by his immediate resignation.
America's veterans deserve mental health care of the highest quality. Many veterans returning from combat have complex mental health needs, and VA must be fully able to meet those needs. VA cannot be complacent in its efforts to prevent veteran suicide. I look forward to working with you to provide veterans with the best services possible.
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Akaka
Chairman
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
House Committee Holds Hearing on Seriously Wounded Vets...
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Oversight Hearing to Examine Care of Seriously Wounded Veterans
After dealing with VA, wounded veteran says “I decided to call on non-profit organizations for assistance”
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), conducted a hearing to assess how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is caring for our nation’s most seriously wounded veterans following inpatient treatment. Specifically, the hearing addressed care coordination after the veteran has transitioned to independent living at home and assessed whether federal care coordinators are working as intended.
“There was a lack of preparation for veterans’ health care at the outset of this war,” said Chairman Mitchell. “The need to provide care and assistance to wounded service members, and their families, in significant number and for the long term has been largely ignored.”
Corporal Casey Owens was seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom and testified about his transition following inpatient care: “While some of the problems I have encountered have been resolved, many have not. The learning curve of VA’s system is steep and its bureaucratic maze is hard to understand. The impression that I get from the VA is that some within the organization think it is the duty of the veteran to endure and resolve these problems on their own. Those, like me, who were paid as a Marine Corp Grunt to do their job to the best of their ability never questioned whether if we got injured my government would be there for me. We all knew it would. It is now time for those who are responsible for the VA to care for those who did their duty.”
Severely injured service members at the VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (PRC) are only a subset of the “severely injured.” There have been approximately 500 PRC patients, but the Dole-Shalala Commission estimated that there were 3,000 severely injured service members according to the criteria established in setting up the commission. All these service members should be receiving clinical and care management services, not just PRC patients.
In November 2007, VA announced the creation of Federal Recovery Coordinators (FRC), to act as the delegated authority for oversight and coordination of care for every eligible severely injured military service member from initial admission to the Military Treatment Facilities. This responsibility continues through the service member’s transfers between and among medical or other treatment facilities, discharge from medical facilities, retirement from Military Service, and throughout reintegration into the civilian community. The FRC is a resource for these service members and their families to ensure they have ready access to the right clinical and non-clinical resources.
Sergeant Ted Wade sustained a severe traumatic brain injury after his humvee was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device in Iraq. His right arm was completely severed above the elbow and he also suffered a fractured leg, broken right foot and visual impairment, among other injuries. His wife, Sarah Wade, testified about their experiences since her husband was wounded: “Ted has made a remarkable recovery by any standard, because we have strayed from standardized treatment, and developed a patient-centered path. I had to educate myself about, and coordinate, additional outside care. Often, access to the necessary services required intervention from the highest levels of government, or for us to personally finance them ourselves. But despite our best efforts, Ted is still unable to easily receive comprehensive care for all of his major health issues, due to shortcomings in the current system, and because of the time his needs demand of me, I have been unable to return to regular work or school.”
The witnesses offered many recommendations for improving the current process of transitioning from inpatient care to independent living at home. Some of the ideas shared included special monthly compensation for integration, changes to dependents’ educational assistance benefits and more flexible respite care options. Another recommendation was establishing a centralized group of personnel specifically for those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“These seriously injured veterans have a right to get on with their lives and focus on their recovery – not deal with endless paperwork and a stubborn bureaucracy,” said Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “We have lost the trust of many and we have a long way to go to provide the care worthy of their service and sacrifice. We must be prepared to welcome back every soldier, sailor, airman and marine with all the compassion this grateful nation can bestow.”
Witnesses:
Panel 1
· Corporal Casey Owens, Houston, TX, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran
· Sarah Wade, Chapel Hill, NC, Testifying on behalf of Sergeant Edward Wade, U.S. Army Combat Veteran
Panel 2
· Meredith Beck, National Policy Director, Wounded Warrior Project
· Todd Bowers, Director of Government Affairs, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Panel 3
· Madhulika Agarwal, MD, MPH, Chief Patient Care Services Officer, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
. Lucille Beck, Ph.D., Chief Consultant, Rehabilitation Services and Program Director for Audiology and Speech Pathology Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration
. Kristin Day, LCSW, Chief Consultant, Care Management and Social Work, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration
Prepared testimony for the hearing and an audio recording of the hearing is available on the internet at this link: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hear ... newsid=208.
After dealing with VA, wounded veteran says “I decided to call on non-profit organizations for assistance”
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), conducted a hearing to assess how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is caring for our nation’s most seriously wounded veterans following inpatient treatment. Specifically, the hearing addressed care coordination after the veteran has transitioned to independent living at home and assessed whether federal care coordinators are working as intended.
“There was a lack of preparation for veterans’ health care at the outset of this war,” said Chairman Mitchell. “The need to provide care and assistance to wounded service members, and their families, in significant number and for the long term has been largely ignored.”
Corporal Casey Owens was seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom and testified about his transition following inpatient care: “While some of the problems I have encountered have been resolved, many have not. The learning curve of VA’s system is steep and its bureaucratic maze is hard to understand. The impression that I get from the VA is that some within the organization think it is the duty of the veteran to endure and resolve these problems on their own. Those, like me, who were paid as a Marine Corp Grunt to do their job to the best of their ability never questioned whether if we got injured my government would be there for me. We all knew it would. It is now time for those who are responsible for the VA to care for those who did their duty.”
Severely injured service members at the VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (PRC) are only a subset of the “severely injured.” There have been approximately 500 PRC patients, but the Dole-Shalala Commission estimated that there were 3,000 severely injured service members according to the criteria established in setting up the commission. All these service members should be receiving clinical and care management services, not just PRC patients.
In November 2007, VA announced the creation of Federal Recovery Coordinators (FRC), to act as the delegated authority for oversight and coordination of care for every eligible severely injured military service member from initial admission to the Military Treatment Facilities. This responsibility continues through the service member’s transfers between and among medical or other treatment facilities, discharge from medical facilities, retirement from Military Service, and throughout reintegration into the civilian community. The FRC is a resource for these service members and their families to ensure they have ready access to the right clinical and non-clinical resources.
Sergeant Ted Wade sustained a severe traumatic brain injury after his humvee was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device in Iraq. His right arm was completely severed above the elbow and he also suffered a fractured leg, broken right foot and visual impairment, among other injuries. His wife, Sarah Wade, testified about their experiences since her husband was wounded: “Ted has made a remarkable recovery by any standard, because we have strayed from standardized treatment, and developed a patient-centered path. I had to educate myself about, and coordinate, additional outside care. Often, access to the necessary services required intervention from the highest levels of government, or for us to personally finance them ourselves. But despite our best efforts, Ted is still unable to easily receive comprehensive care for all of his major health issues, due to shortcomings in the current system, and because of the time his needs demand of me, I have been unable to return to regular work or school.”
The witnesses offered many recommendations for improving the current process of transitioning from inpatient care to independent living at home. Some of the ideas shared included special monthly compensation for integration, changes to dependents’ educational assistance benefits and more flexible respite care options. Another recommendation was establishing a centralized group of personnel specifically for those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“These seriously injured veterans have a right to get on with their lives and focus on their recovery – not deal with endless paperwork and a stubborn bureaucracy,” said Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “We have lost the trust of many and we have a long way to go to provide the care worthy of their service and sacrifice. We must be prepared to welcome back every soldier, sailor, airman and marine with all the compassion this grateful nation can bestow.”
Witnesses:
Panel 1
· Corporal Casey Owens, Houston, TX, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran
· Sarah Wade, Chapel Hill, NC, Testifying on behalf of Sergeant Edward Wade, U.S. Army Combat Veteran
Panel 2
· Meredith Beck, National Policy Director, Wounded Warrior Project
· Todd Bowers, Director of Government Affairs, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Panel 3
· Madhulika Agarwal, MD, MPH, Chief Patient Care Services Officer, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
. Lucille Beck, Ph.D., Chief Consultant, Rehabilitation Services and Program Director for Audiology and Speech Pathology Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration
. Kristin Day, LCSW, Chief Consultant, Care Management and Social Work, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration
Prepared testimony for the hearing and an audio recording of the hearing is available on the internet at this link: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hear ... newsid=208.
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
-
boardman
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3973
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
- VVA Chapter: 47
- Location: So. Cal.
- Contact:
Chairman Filner Lauds Passage of Budget
Chairman Filner Lauds Passage of Budget
Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement today on the passage of a Democratic budget by the House of Representatives:
“The Democratic budget resolution passed today by the House of Representatives builds on the historical funding increases for veterans programs last year, recognizes the needs faced by America’s veterans today, and invests in our veterans for tomorrow. In this time of war, as we continue to send men and women into harm’s way, we must be committed and prepared to fully provide the resources to care for these heroes upon their return – and this budget does that.”
“The Democratic budget resolution rejects the Bush Administration’s plan to institute enrollment fees and increase pharmacy copayments – a plan that would effectively force many veterans out of the VA system. This budget also rejects the President’s proposed cuts to new facility construction projects and cuts to medical and prosthetic research programs at the VA. The Democratic budget resolution provides needed funding to care for our returning service members and provide more comprehensive mental health care and resources to address the needs of homeless veterans.
“Taking care of our veterans when they return home is a continuing cost of war. The Democratic leadership recognizes this truth and has provided for a budget that exceeds the Independent Budget’s request for veterans’ funding. I am proud to have the support of this group of dedicated leaders and veterans service groups.”
Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement today on the passage of a Democratic budget by the House of Representatives:
“The Democratic budget resolution passed today by the House of Representatives builds on the historical funding increases for veterans programs last year, recognizes the needs faced by America’s veterans today, and invests in our veterans for tomorrow. In this time of war, as we continue to send men and women into harm’s way, we must be committed and prepared to fully provide the resources to care for these heroes upon their return – and this budget does that.”
“The Democratic budget resolution rejects the Bush Administration’s plan to institute enrollment fees and increase pharmacy copayments – a plan that would effectively force many veterans out of the VA system. This budget also rejects the President’s proposed cuts to new facility construction projects and cuts to medical and prosthetic research programs at the VA. The Democratic budget resolution provides needed funding to care for our returning service members and provide more comprehensive mental health care and resources to address the needs of homeless veterans.
“Taking care of our veterans when they return home is a continuing cost of war. The Democratic leadership recognizes this truth and has provided for a budget that exceeds the Independent Budget’s request for veterans’ funding. I am proud to have the support of this group of dedicated leaders and veterans service groups.”
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"