October 27, 2008
The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Peake,
We recently obtained a document which appears to outline a new program that would utilize an expanded leasing program in lieu of major construction for the delivery of VA health care. As we understand the proposed program, VA would place greater emphasis on leasing space or providing fee-basis care, instead of renovating or constructing new facilities.
As the Chairman and former Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, we are interested in learning more about this proposal, including its current status. To that end, we ask that you address the following questions:
The document makes reference to 22 proposed sites for this expanded leasing program. What are those sites?
What studies of VA's construction methods and process have been carried out to determine if the
current approach is as efficient as possible?
What is the full extent of the current backlog in construction? How much would VA need, over the next five years, to complete all currently planned construction, and to lease space or provide fee-basis care instead?
What involvement have veterans' organizations and others had in the development of this proposed new approach? Have community health providers been engaged to determine if they can support additional demand for inpatient care if VA no longer provides such care in selected locations?
What are the ramifications for the delivery of long-term care if this proposal is adopted?
What would be the ramifications for specialty inpatient care?
Will the near term cost avoidance from not carrying out needed construction be beneficial to VA in the long term? How will VA be able to ensure that needed inpatient capacity will remain available in those areas in which the department closes all inpatient beds?
How many jobs does VA project will be lost, both overall and by specialty, if the new proposal is implemented in the 22 proposed sites?
Please describe any other alternative approaches that the Department is considering that would alter the current method of providing health care, or that would alter the structure or composition of the VA health care system.
Given the time sensitivity of this proposal, we ask for your response within two weeks. We look forward to working with you to further the interests of our veterans.
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Akaka John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman Senator
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Veteran's Mental Health Bill
Veterans Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008. S. 2162, introduced by Senator Akaka and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators, makes various improvements to veterans' mental health and other forms of care.
S. 2162's improvements to veterans' mental health care include:
1. Setting a standard minimum level of care for substance use disorder, and creating innovative enhancements to treatment
2. Improving treatment to veterans with multiple disorders, such as PTSD and substance use disorder
3. Mandating a review of VA's residential mental health care facilities, to ensure that they are adequately staffed Creating a research program on PTSD and substance use disorder, in cooperation with the National Center for PTSD
4. Enabling VA to provide mental health services to veterans' families, and setting up a program to aid the families of returning servicemembers
President Bush signed the bill into law on October 10, 2008.
S. 2162's improvements to veterans' mental health care include:
1. Setting a standard minimum level of care for substance use disorder, and creating innovative enhancements to treatment
2. Improving treatment to veterans with multiple disorders, such as PTSD and substance use disorder
3. Mandating a review of VA's residential mental health care facilities, to ensure that they are adequately staffed Creating a research program on PTSD and substance use disorder, in cooperation with the National Center for PTSD
4. Enabling VA to provide mental health services to veterans' families, and setting up a program to aid the families of returning servicemembers
President Bush signed the bill into law on October 10, 2008.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Travel Reimbursements for obtaining VA services
If you meet the criteria below, you may be eligible for mileage reimbursement or special
mode transport in association with obtaining VA health care services.
You Qualify If:
1. you have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or
2. you are traveling for treatment of a SC condition, or
3. you receive a VA pension, or
4. your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
5. you are traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension examination
You Qualify for Special Mode Transportation (Ambulance, Wheelchair van
etc.) if:
1. your medical condition requires an ambulance or a specially equipped van as
determined by a VA clinician, and
2. you meet one of the eligibility criteria in 1 through 4 above, and
3. the travel is pre-authorized (authorization is not required for emergencies if a delay
would be hazardous to life or health)
mode transport in association with obtaining VA health care services.
You Qualify If:
1. you have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or
2. you are traveling for treatment of a SC condition, or
3. you receive a VA pension, or
4. your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
5. you are traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension examination
You Qualify for Special Mode Transportation (Ambulance, Wheelchair van
etc.) if:
1. your medical condition requires an ambulance or a specially equipped van as
determined by a VA clinician, and
2. you meet one of the eligibility criteria in 1 through 4 above, and
3. the travel is pre-authorized (authorization is not required for emergencies if a delay
would be hazardous to life or health)
Legislation to Help Soldiers Immediately
Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Fred Upton, R-Mich., are sponsoring a bill, the Immediate Benefits for Wounded Warriors Act, that would give partial payments to some veterans while they wait for a formal VA claims decision. Currently, it can take a year for initial claims and up to three years for appeals. The VA is currently facing a backlog of over 400,000 claims. Despite ideas on how to harness technology to speed up the process, no immediate plans are in the works.
HR 4219 would apply to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans rated by the military as being 10 percent or more disabled, or who have been diagnosed by any doctor with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.
Service members meeting these guidelines would get disability pay as if they had received a 30 percent disability rating through the formal VA ratings process. If a veteran ended up receiving a higher disability rating after the VA completed its process, he would get a backdated payment for the difference. If he ended up with a disability rated at less than 30 percent, he would not have to return any money.
Inconsistency in Disability Awards may lead to new reviews
A recent article in the Army Times identifies problems with the assessments given to service members.
"Service members given a disability rating of 20 percent or lower during their medical evaluation boards since Sept. 11, 2001, may have their cases reviewed by a new Defense Department board.
A rating of 30 percent or higher means lifetime health benefits, as well as medical retirement pay based on the rating, years served and rank when retired.
The Physical Disability Board of Review was mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act after several investigations — including an analysis of five years’ worth of Defense Department budget records by Military Times — showed discrepancies across the services in average amounts of disability benefits awarded."
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