March 2, 2009

Walter Reed Taking Proactive Approach To Mental Healthcare

AFP (3/2) says anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), "and record-high suicide rates are haunting American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, amid a taboo over mental distress," but at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, "psychological help is part and parcel of the care provided to soldiers wounded in combat, according to Colonel John Bradley, chief of the hospital's psychiatric department. 'We don't wait for a declaration of emotional distress or dysfunction but we rather see the patient right from the beginning. We are looking for early signs of depression "'or difficulty coping with their battle injuries,' he told AFP." According "to Bradley, 10 to 15 percent of wounded veterans treated at Walter Reed suffer from PTSD."

Suicide-Prevention Presentations To Be Given To Marines

The Los Angeles Times (2/28, Perry) reported, "Alarmed by a rising suicide rate among their troops, Marine officials announced Friday that all Marines, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, will receive a two-hour suicide-prevention presentation next month." The "sessions will remind troops to watch for warning signs among their buddies and to immediately inform their superiors if they believe a Marine is thinking of suicide. In 2008, 41 Marines committed suicide, a rate of 19 per 100,000 troops. In 2007 the figure was 33 suicides (16.5 per 100,000)," while "in 2006 it was 25 (12.9 per 100,000)." The "Army had a similar increase. In 2008, 128 soldiers committed suicide, a rate of 20.2 per 100,000, up from 16.8 in 2007."

VA Operating Suicide Prevention Hot Line

The third story in George W. Reilly's "Veterans' Journal" column Providence (RI) Journal (3/2) notes, "Since July 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs has operated an around-the-clock suicide prevention hot line -- (800) 273-TALK -- that the department said has received about 100,000 calls and has rescued more than 2,600 people." The VA "also has suicide prevention coordinators at each of its medical centers."
Impact: Mental Health, PTSD

Critics Complain About Light Use Of VA Criteria By Disability Review Board

In his syndicated "Military Update" column, appearing in the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser (3/2), Tom Philpott writes, "Complaints from veterans and from a high-profile commission that the services routinely were 'low-balling' disability ratings for military members found medically unfit spurred Congress last year to take action. Among other things," Congress "ordered the Department of Defense to create a special board to review disability ratings of 20 percent or less given to members who separated since Sept. 11, 2001." For the most part, the new Physical Disability Board of Review Board will "not be reassessing ratings for mental and physical conditions from applicants based solely on the more liberal criteria used by raters" at the "Veterans Administration Schedule for Ratings Disabilities, or VASRD." The "problem with that, critics said, is for some health conditions, service guidelines had watered down or ignored the VASRD."
Impact: VA Benefits

Obama's Agenda For Vets Posted At White House Website

The second story in George W. Reilly's "Veterans' Journal" column Providence (RI) Journal (3/2) says President Barack Obama "promises to deliver the care and benefits that the nation's military veterans deserve while transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to an administration agenda posted recently on the White House" website "devoted exclusively to veterans -- www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/veterans." Obama, "who served on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, plans to reverse the 2003 ban on enrolling modest-income veterans into the VA system. The administration also wants to end employment discrimination for Guardsmen and Reservists and improve the process of transitioning from active duty to civilian life."

Healthcare Coverage, Benefits Would Be Expanded Under Proposed VA Budget

In continuing coverage, the San Antonio (TX) Express-News (2/27, Martin) reported, "Veterans would see an expansion" of healthcare "coverage and benefits under President Barack Obama's 2010 budget blueprint," which was released Thursday and "calls for a 10 percent increase in spending to $53 billion." The "budget proposal is supported by groups that include the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars," according to US Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX). However, the "Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America took a wait-and-see approach. 'The president seems to have put his money where his mouth is, but the devil is in the details,' said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA executive director," who added that he wants to make sure the budget "does not rest on increased co-pays, premiums and fees for veterans."

The Wall Street Journal (2/27, Conkey) said that with his budget proposal, Obama is calling "for a 10.3% boost in funding next year" for the VA, "making good on a campaign promise to expand services for military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan." And, over "the next five years," the President "wants to boost veterans spending by $25 billion and expand eligibility" for VA healthcare "to 500,000 non-disabled veterans earning 'modest incomes.' Other programs targeted for expansion: Centers of Excellence focused on veteran-oriented specialty areas like prosthetics, mental health and spinal cord injuries, and a shift toward electronic medical records."
Impact: Presidential Veterans Agenda

Wilson Says VA's New GI Bill Program Is On Track For Summer Launch

In continuing coverage, the Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot (2/28, Eisman) reports, "Federal authorities are on track to launch a multi-billion dollar student aid program for military veterans this summer, the official overseeing the effort told lawmakers Thursday. While some veterans groups are raising concerns about the government's preparedness, Keith Wilson, the director of education services for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said he has high confidence that benefit checks will begin flowing" at the beginning of August "to up to 500,000 students and the colleges they attend. Wilson told a House subcommittee that the VA will begin accepting applications for aid by May 1." The new aid "is part of a 'Post 9/11 GI Bill' passed last year." The law, "which the VA expects will cost $78 billion over 10 years, will provide Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with tuition aid up to the maximum tuition and fees charged at the most expensive public college in the state where the veteran enrolls."
Impact: 9/11 GI Bill