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08-06-2005, 05:10 AM
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CHAIRMAN BUYER CONFIRMS QUALITY CARE
House Veterans Affairs Chairman visits combat wounded in Minnesota CHAIRMAN BUYER CONFIRMS QUALITY CARE Washington, D.C. — Chairman Steve Buyer and Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) on Tuesday inspected the care being provided to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom recovering from combat wounds at the VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) in Minneapolis, Minn.FOR COMBAT WOUNDED BuyerVisitsMinnesotaPolytraumaCenter “We who have served have a responsibility that does not end with our uniformed service,” said Buyer, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. “We must ensure that the VA system is properly equipped and its staff is well trained, so that when our servicemembers come back and need VA, it is there for them.” During their visit to the center, which is part of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Buyer and Kline spoke with staff and patients. The center is one of VA’s four regional PRCs. It provides rehabilitation care for veterans returning from combat with severe injuries that may include traumatic brain injuries, amputations, blindness or hearing disorders, complex orthopedic injuries, and mental health concerns. The other VA PRCs are in Palo Alto, Calif.; Richmond, Va.; and Tampa, Fla. “There is nothing like being on-site and listening to the people who are actually giving the care and to the people who are actually getting the care,” Kline, a retired U.S. Marine colonel, said. Patients in the centers have typically been treated at military treatment facilities and are transferred to the VA at a time coordinated between the military and VA for longer term rehabilitation. The center’s chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Barbara Sigford, said that almost half of patients have mental health concerns in addition to their other injuries. “We are here because polytrauma is a prime example of battlefield-to-health care - seamless transition from DoD to VA,” Buyer said. Buyer and Kline spoke privately with a wounded veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, an Army sergeant who praised his care at the PRC and compared it to the care he got at WalterReedArmyMedicalCenter in Washington. “Rhetoric criticizing the Administration for its lack of care and compassion for our combat wounded is inaccurate, has a corrosive effect on those who are serving, and creates doubt whether care will be there for them if they need it,” Buyer said. The system is not without flaws that must be corrected. VA staff told Buyer and Kline of problems they encounter getting complete medical records. Concerns about the sharing of sensitive personal information have impeded timely exchange of critical medical information between VA and DoD. VA thus depends on what military hospitals provide them. That makes VA’s job tougher. “We have been at this for three years and we still have VA facilities across from military facilities and they can’t talk to each other. This is a leadership problem,” Buyer said. “We have great doctors, nurses, therapists and volunteers ensuring high-quality care – we saw that here today. They deserve the best systems to back them up, and that’s our responsibility in Washington.” “As a veteran and a Member of Congress I am encouraged by what we saw today,” Kline said. “The high standard of care provided to the patients at this facility is far beyond what was available to me and my contemporaries during my 25 years of service. I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Buyer to ensure the standard remains high and our veterans continue to receive unparalleled care.” More information about hearings, legislation, and other activities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs can be found on our award-winning Website: www.veterans.house.gov
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 "For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-08-2005, 04:00 PM
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Military Headlines 08 August 2005
Military Headlines 08 August 2005 Families Begin Funerals for Ohio Marines Unit had Asked for More Marines U.S. Embassy in Saudi Closes Over Threat Survivors Mark Anniversary of Hiroshima Ex-POW Jessica Lynch to Start College Coast Guard's Aging Cutters Lose Rust Battle Detainees Under Harry Potter's Spell North Korean Threat Nudges Japan to Rethink Nukes GOP Split Over Iraqis' Readiness Looking for a Bomb or a Smile Morale Woes Rattle Guard Reservists who Went to War Get Their Due
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-13-2005, 01:03 AM
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VA to review veterans’ PTSD cases
 August 12, 2005 Posted on ArmyTimes.com during the past 24 hours. VA to review veterans’ PTSD cases By Rebecca Carroll Associated Press The government is going to take a new look at the claims of about a third of the military veterans who now get disability payments for post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veterans Affairs Department will begin a yearlong review next month of 72,000 cases after an internal study found inconsistencies in the way the claims were decided, including many cases approved though they lacked required medical evidence... ...The review will cover veterans whose claims were approved between 1999 and 2004 and who receive full disability benefits — $2,299 a month — for PTSD alone or in combination with other conditions, said VA spokesman Phil Budahn. The review won’t consider the other side of the question, whether some veterans were wrongly denied benefits, and that has some critics upset. “We need to pay as much attention to improper denials as we do to improper grants,” said Illinois Rep. Lane Evans, ranking Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee...
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-17-2005, 03:10 AM
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Benefits Update for 15 AUGUST 2005
 15 AUGUST 2005 Blue to Green Program Offers Bonuse Deal of the Week: Buy a 1-Month Online Gaming Subscription Receive 1-Month Free PTSD Survey Shows Increase USAF International Affairs Program Virtual Family Readiness Groups Military Retiree Appreciation Weekend DoD Launches New Online Library DoDDS-Europe School Registration Volunteer Youth Coaches Needed DOD Announces Inaugural 'Freedom Walk' Single Marine Program on MarineNet Navy Website Promotes Health and Fitness Featured Job: Firearms Instructor New Program Recruits Native Speakers Navy Fleetwide Survey Available Online TRICARE Builds Its Uniform Formulary TRICARE Survivor Benefits: Overview Vacation Club Adds Nightly Getaways Air Combat Command Addresses Issue of Suicide Congress Seeks to Expand Death Benefits TRICARE to All Reservists Hawaii on a Budget Print and Post This Week's Military Report Headline Military News
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-23-2005, 03:08 PM
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Veterans Report for 22 AUGUST 2005
 Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication. 22 AUGUST 2005
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-26-2005, 10:18 PM
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Retiree Special Report 08.26.05
 Keep Retirement Savings Rolling After Separation An IRA rollover allows you to consolidate retirement funds after separation, but there are pitfalls to avoid. Here are five steps to get you started....More $1 Billion Awarded to Injured Retirees, $21 Billion to Go! The Army CRSC Division has announced that $1 billion has been awarded to retirees with disabilities across all military uniformed Services through the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program....More The Current Status of Concurrent Receipt Concurrent Receipt, or CRDP, is quite the hot topic these days. It seems there are as many interpretations of the law as there are eligible retirees. The following is a quick overview of the finer points of the law....More Get Household Goods Moved, Years After Retiring What happens if you retire but do not make your move within the usual 12-month period? If you visit most Personal Property/Household Goods Offices, they will tell you -- if you ask them -- that they will extend your move authorization for an additional year....More Military Struggling With Rising Health Care Costs Rising medical costs and the expansion of health benefits for retirees, Guardsmen and Reservists, and their families, are putting a strain on the military health care system, Defense Department health and personnel officials told members of Congress April 21....More Investigating the Life Satisfaction of Officers If you retired between 1993 and 1999 your participation in a survey is requested. Major Russ Graves (USAF, retired) is a graduate student at Texas A&M University investigating the life satisfaction of officers who retired during this period....More Support the Troops Subscriptions for Soldiers allows you to donate a magazine subscription to a servicemember for only $10. Plus $2 goes to support TAPS. Show your support today....More On Its Own: The Iraqi Navy in 2005 What will the shape of tomorrow's Navy and Coast Guard maritime security ship look like? Will it be the littoral combat ship? Or one-or more-of three other ship designs? ...More
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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08-30-2005, 04:28 PM
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Military Benefits Update ~29 AUGUST 2005
 29 AUGUST 2005 Air Force Finds Security Breach Deal of the Week: 10-50% Off Photo Dog Tags Child Car Seat Guidance for Parents Protection for Deployed Soldiers FRA Provides Scholarships Career Advice for Military Spouses Reserve Officers Association Membership TRICARE For Life Discrimination Against Servicemembers Leave Refunds For Federal Employees How the Montgomery GI Bill Works for You Featured Job: Security Officers Marine Clothing and Equipment Survey Navy Increases Retention Bonuses AAFES New Home Decor Catalog One-Year Open Enrollment for SBP Announced Stand Down Helps Homeless Veterans Deployment Financial Management SMARTWebMove Streamlines PCS Process TRICARE's Extended Care Health Option Troops' Gravestones Have Pentagon Slogans Update DEERS When a Baby Arrives Twin Cities Retiree Appreciation
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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09-14-2005, 06:56 PM
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Veterans Report 12 SEPTEMBER 2005
Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. 12 SEPTEMBER 2005 VA Sets Up Toll - Free Nationwide Number for Veterans, FamiliesDeal of the Week: 15% Off Flag Cases, Medals, Ribbons & More DoD Offers Help for Displaced Employees FEMA Getting Assistance to Individuals Government Contractors & Vendors Hotline IRS Disaster Relief Toll-Free Number Quantico Schools Looking for Substitutes Military Logistics Summit September 28th - 30th "Wounded Warriors" Lifted Up by Contributors Featured Job: NYPD Disaster-affected Legionnaires Offered Fast Assistance VA Launches Hurricane Katrina Blog New Increased GI Bill Rates for 2006 VFW Unmet Needs Program VFW Help Hurricane Relief Efforts With Online Donation Form Online Veteran Service Office Resources
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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09-17-2005, 03:20 AM
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Capitol Hill Watch....................Friday, September 16, 2005 Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Approves Bill That Would Improve Access to Care, Could Lead To Use of Private Contractors The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on Thursday approved two bills by voice vote to expand health care for veterans, CQ Today reports (Barrett, CQ Today, 9/15). The first bill (S 1182), sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), would authorize a number of medical services at Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities and include provisions from a number of other bills. Under the legislation, VA could provide care for as long as two weeks for infants born to woman veterans at department health care facilities. The bill also would expand health coverage for veterans' children who have certain disabilities, improve coverage for homeless veterans, and expand and improve mental health services for veterans. In addition, the legislation would require VA and the Department of Defense to study proposals to help eliminate the stigma related to mental health treatment among veterans and would allow veterans with health insurance who seek care at non-VA health care facilities to "receive the difference between what their private insurer would pay and what the VA would cover at one of its own facilities," CongressDaily reports. The bill also would provide health care to all veterans in states affected by Hurricane Katrina and would waive copayments for their medical services and medications through Jan. 31, 2006 (Gruenwald, CongressDaily, 9/16). VA Centers The second bill (S 716), sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), would expand outreach services at VA centers. Under the legislation, VA would have to employ as many as 50 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to help others readjust to life after the wars. The bill also clarifies that the parents of an Armed Forces member who dies in service qualify for bereavement counseling from VA. In addition, the legislation would authorize $180,000 to VA for readjustment and bereavement counseling and related mental health services at department health care facilities for fiscal year 2006 (CQ Today, 9/15).
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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09-24-2005, 09:29 PM
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Senate Veterans Affairs passes amndmnt 98-0 to halt VA invstgtion of disblty claims
Senate Veterans Affairs passes amendment 98-0 to halt VA investigation of disability claims Murray Protects Veterans with PTSD from VA Scrutiny, Stigma and Penalties Senate Passes Murray's Amendment Today; Blocks VA from Wasting Resources Investigating 72,000 Veterans and Penalizing Those with Paperwork Errors For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 22, 2005 (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) stood up for America's veterans by ensuring that those who need help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are not scrutinized, stigmatized, or penalized by a planned VA investigation. "Veterans with PTSD deserve the VA's compassion and support, not costly investigations, penalties and stigma," Murray said. "Veterans should not be punished for mistakes the VA has made, and that's what my amendment ensures." Earlier this year, the VA announced plans to investigate the PTSD disability claims of 72,000 veterans. An earlier study of a small number of cases by the VA's Inspector General found errors in about one-third of the claims examined. Many of the problems uncovered were paperwork errors. Murray and veterans organizations like the American Legion and the Paralyzed Veterans of America feared the VA would use the review to strip benefits from veterans with mental illness. The review would also take time and resources away from processing current disability claims. "The VA must not delay its work on today's disability claims in order to investigate decisions it made years ago," Murray said. Murray said the VA's review would send a message to veterans that if they seek help for PTSD, they will be subject to scrutiny. "It's already hard enough for veterans to seek care for mental health problems. I can't stand by and let the VA throw down another barrier in front of veterans with PTSD," Murray said. Murray blocked the review today by inserting language into the FY 2006 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which passed the full Senate this afternoon. Murray's language says the review cannot proceed until the VA justifies the program to Congress. It also ensures veterans cannot be stripped of their benefits except in cases of fraud. Veterans leaders applauded Murray's work. "Senator Murray has given veterans some body armor to protect them from administrative errors and penalties," said Skip Dreps, government relations director for the Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, which represents 20,000 veterans nationwide, including 500 in Washington state. "We bore the burden of battle once, and we shouldn’t have to bear the battle again when our government makes mistakes in our benefits." Now that the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill has passed the Senate, it must be reconciled with the House of Representative's version. In other veterans news, last week, Senator Murray announced new transitional housing for homeless veterans in Washington state. She also voted against a bill that would drain resources away from veterans healthcare to conduct a study of workforce privatization.
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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10-14-2005, 03:58 AM
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Veterans Report 10.13.05
Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication. 10 OCTOBER 2005 VA and Goodwill Sign Pact Deal of the Week: Special Military Discounts Discounted Bus Tickets VA Patients VA and Goodwill Job Program ABC Radio Salutes Veterans Featured Job: Trainer South Dakota Offers Bonus to Veterans Online Veteran Service Office Resources Veterans Business Outreach Veterans' Records Accessible Online VA Sets Up Toll -Free Nationwide Number Print and Post This Week's Veterans Report Headline Military News **A Note from our Sponsor** Free Legal Help for Vets Have you experienced negligence, malpractice or failure to make a proper diagnosis by a veteran's or military hospital? Free legal consultation.
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"For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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