Welcome to the VFWgeorgia Web Site. This site will be a link between you and the VFW Posts and their Ladies Auxiliary in the State of Georgia.

Posted for your information will be the latest VFW Washington Weekly and VA News Releases
 


VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY
August 5, 2008


In This Issue:
1. VA Funding Passes House
2. New Housing Bill has Vet Provisions
3. House Passes Vet Bills
4. Congress on August Recess


1. VA funding Passes House: By a 409-4 vote, the House passed the 2009 VA and Military Construction funding bill. The bill builds on last year's historic funding increase, providing $8.8 billion more than last year's funding level. For VA, it's a $4.6 billion increase in funding to a total of $47.7 billion. It includes funding to treat the 40,000 new Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that VA expects to treat this year.
It also includes funding for:
* Priority 8 veterans - would allow a small number of new Priority 8 veterans back into the health care system
* Mental health care - nearly $1 billion more than last year's funding level for PTSD, suicide prevention and other mental illnesses
* Mileage Reimbursement - would increase the rate by $.13 per mile and freeze the deductible
* Rural care - increases funding for rural care options, especially targeted at returning Guard and Reserve members who live far away from VA facilities
* Research and prosthetics - over $170 million more than last year's amount
* Claims processors - allows the hiring of 2,100 additional processors to help reduce the disability claims backlog
* Construction - begins funding six additional VA facilities and allows smaller projects to be conducted at 145 additional locations

The Military Construction portion of the bill includes $336 million in new funding for quality of life programs for troops and their families, much of which is targeted towards barracks and medical facilities. It also sends $3.2 billion specifically towards military housing.

The bill awaits Senate action. With the Senate on recess until September, we will not see any movement for a while. Once the Senate passes its version of the funding bill, the differences would need to be resolved before being sent to the President.

For a detailed summary of the bill: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/MilConSummaryHP09.pdf
For information about the bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.06599:
To see how your Representative voted:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll563.xml

 

2. New Housing Bill has Vet Provisions: The housing and economic recovery legislation that was recently signed into law (PL 110-289) includes several VFW-supported provisions designed to safeguard servicemembers and veterans during the mortgage and foreclosure crisis.
Some of the provisions in the bill will:
**Prohibit foreclosure of servicemembers property for at least nine months following deployment.
**Increase the amount of VA's Home loan guarantee program.
**Authorize VA to provide assistance for specially adapted housing to active-duty members with certain service-connected disabilities.
**Allows individuals with severe burn injuries to be eligible for specially adapted housing assistance.
**Extend through December 31, 2011, the period of assistance for individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.
For the entire bill's provisions click here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03221:

 

3. House Passes Vet Bills: The House passed eight veteran-related bills covering a wide array of benefits. Several of the bills will provide new protections for servicemembers who have or are in the process of being deployed. One such bill is HR 6225, The Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008. Provisions include requiring judges to give veterans a hearing when they are seeking to regain a job lost during deployment and allowing servicemembers to terminate contracts if they are notified of deployment. It also lets them continue education benefits where they left off prior to active duty.
VFW Resolution 639 supports another bill cleared by the House- HR 6445 ,The Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act, would eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans and would direct VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain. It also mandates the VA to centralize third party billing, and allow family members of veterans to be eligible for counseling.
For a complete list of bills passed visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/news/

 

4. Congress on August Recess: Congress heads out of town with many items left on the agenda including VA funding and the Defense Authorization bill. Now is the perfect time to visit their local offices and talk about issues important to veterans and the VFW. Remember all of the House members are up for re-election in November so they should be willing and eager to visit with you. When making an appointment make sure you arrive promptly and come prepared to discuss your issues. It is best to stick to one or two specific items and give examples of why you (VFW) support these issues. Always thank them and remind them that you expect them to do the right thing for America's veterans and servicemembers. For a list of our priority goals visit our website at: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.leveld&did=3694

To find contact information for your Representative including district office locations, type your zip code in the box in the following link: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/

 

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY
July 25, 2008

In This Issue
1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA
2. Agent Orange Bill

1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this week on Guard and Reserve access to VA benefits. The hearing focused on a recent VA audit report on outreach and transition assistance programs to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the IG report - entitled "VBA: Transition Assistance for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Service Members and Veterans" - VA is not meeting its obligation to inform new veterans of the benefits they may have earned, and more than half of those left out are Guard and Reserve veterans. Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) relayed his concerns to the VA panel and other witnesses, and asked them to look into why Guard and Reserve members are not receiving the same level of support from VA. Panelist Sgt. Roy Meredith, Maryland National Guard, offered his personal insight and told senators that to be effective in providing Guard and Reservists with information and access to their benefits; a formal and defined program with proper oversight at the state level is critical.


A copy of the IG report is at http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2008/VAOIG-06-03552-169.pdf
Hearing information is at http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11732&view=all

2. Agent Orange Bill: VFW attended a Wednesday press conference held by House Veterans Affairs' Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA). The press event introduced VFW-supported legislation HR 6562, "The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008." The bill would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure. Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove "foot on land" in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans' claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War. It will also provide coverage and compensation to "Blue Water Navy" veterans and those who flew within Vietnamese airspace.
For more, go to http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=288

 

VFW Washington Weekly
July 21, 2008

In This Issue:
1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill
2. House VA Committee Action
3. VA Outreach Hearing
4. SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief

1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill: The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously cleared its version of the 2009 VA Funding Bill. The bill provides $72.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and Veterans Affairs. This is about $5 billion more than the current fiscal year, and is in line with the House Appropriations Committee's recommendations. It includes:
$47.7 billion in total VA discretionary funding.
$41.1 billion for VA health care.
$1.2 billion for VA construction projects, nearly double the president's request, and $1.1 billion for hospital maintenance and repairs.
$84 million more than the president's request for medical and prosthetic research.
$350 million to help certain higher income Category 8 veterans to begin enrolling in VA.
$250 million targeted to the care of rural veterans.
The bill now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

2. House VA Committee Action: The House Veterans Affairs Committee cleared seven benefit-related bills which now move to the floor for final passage. Among the bills is HR 6445, which will eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans. VFW Resolution 639 supports this action. The VFW also supports other features of HR 6445 that would direct VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain, mandate the VA to centralize third party billing, and allow family members of veterans receiving non-service connected treatment to be eligible for counseling.

Some of the other bills passed by the committee include:
HR 1527 would create a three-year pilot program to allow certain rural veterans to receive covered health services through outside providers. The bill defines rural veterans as one who lives at least 60 miles from a VA facility that provides primary care and 120 miles from an acute care provider.
HR 6225 would improve Servicemember Civil Relief Act and USERRA protections by capping interest rates at 6% during deployments, requiring institutes of higher learning to refund tuition and fees, as well as guarantee service members a place when they return to school. It will also allow service contracts to be terminated or suspended without penalty while on deployment.
For the entire list of bills and the House VA Committee press release, visit their website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

For more information on the bills, type the bill number into the search box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/

3. VA Outreach Hearing: The House subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations talked to servicemembers, marketing and policy experts on how the VA can increase awareness of its programs to the newest generation of veterans. Subcommittee Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) believes that VA needs to reach out to current OIF/OEF veterans through Internet sites such as Facebook and television advertisements. Iraq veteran and National Guard member Liz O'Herrin testified that e-mail and other electronic modes of communication are critical today's veterans, whereas the VA still relies on mail, often to outdated addresses. She suggested that VA allow veterans to use their e-mail address as a way of communication. She also suggested that the creation of an electronic mail enrollment form by VA would enable veterans to select the areas they are interested in learning about regarding disability, healthcare and education benefits. Lisette Mondello, assistant VA secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs, said VA is looking into several types of advertising markets, including social marketing and internet-based, nontraditional media, to help pass on its message. For more about the hearing, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=278

4. SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief: Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended to the president that Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley be nominated as the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau. McKinley is presently serving as the Director of the Air National Guard. With his pending nomination and Senate confirmation comes a promotion, as the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act elevated the NGB chief to a four-star billet. Gates also announced that he is recommending the current NGB chief, Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, take over as the first guardsman to be the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, which oversees security in North America.

 

VFW Washington Weekly
July 11, 2008


In This Issue:
1. House VA Committee Questions Chantix Drug Use
2. House VA Committee Move Bills
3. Senate Holds Hearing on Claims Backlog
4. Medicare/TRICARE Vote

1. House VA Committee Questions Chantix Drug Use
The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on VA's use of the smoking cessation drug, Chantix, on veterans suffering from PTSD. Recent news articles have reported that VA did not properly warn veterans of the risks associated with the drug. Veterans were not informed that using the drug may cause side effects including anxiety, depression and feelings of suicide.
VFW Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki has demanded VA accountability over the incident and has asked Secretary James Peake to take decisive action with anyone involved. "Those in the VA who failed to properly notify America's veterans that their medication could produce fatal side effects must resign their positions," said Lisicki, if not, then the VA secretary must take decisive action to terminate their employment."

For the VFW's Press Release: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4627
For all the hearing information visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

 2. House VA Committee Moves Bills
The House VA Subcommittee on Health moved several benefit bills yesterday, allowing the full committee to take action.
The VFW-supported bills before the committee included:
HR 6419 would extend mental health care benefits to family members of veterans who receive non-service-connected treatment.
HR 6445 would eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans in category 4.
HR 1527 would create a three-year pilot program to allow certain rural veterans enrolled in four of the VA's 21 health care networks to receive covered health services through outside providers.
HR 6122 would direct VA to develop a pain management program for veterans.

 3. Senate Holds Hearing on Claims Backlog
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held the fourth in a series of hearings on VA's claims backlog delays. Congress recently approved a historic increase in staffing for VBA, but the backlog in claims remains at around *300,000 with an average of 182 days to process. VA's goal is to process all claims in 125 days. Chairman Akaka questioned what else VA needs to make necessary technological and staffing improvements to speed the process. The VSO panel referenced recommendations of the IBM Claims Processing Improvement Study and how some of their recommendations can be implemented by VA.

*Please note that what was reported to the Committee represents only a part of the VA backlog. In the week ending July 5, 2008 there were a total of 637,000 rating and non-rating cases pending of which 23% were over 6 months old, in addition the VA has over 172,000 cases on appeal.

For more about the hearing visit the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/


4. Medicare/TRICARE Vote
The Senate voted (69-31) against a 10.6% cut to Medicare rates on Wednesday. The VFW was a strong advocate in making sure that the proposed cuts were defeated. Payments to TRICARE doctors are directly linked to Medicare which would have meant that many doctors would have chosen to stop seeing TRICARE patients as well as Medicare users.
For the Senate Roll Call Vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169

 

 

 

 VA News

 

VA Announces On-Line Claims Applications


WASHINGTON (July 16, 2008) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that on-line applications are now accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the application. 

Effective immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line application website (VONAPP) without the claimant's signature.  The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant's application for benefits.  Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications. 

VONAPP (www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm) is a Web-based system that benefits both internal and external users.  Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery. 

VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA, decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors. The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care benefits and much more.

Over 3.7 million veterans and beneficiaries receive compensation and pension benefits from VA and approximately 523,000 students receive education benefits.  Approximately 90,000 disabled veterans participate in VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

For more information about VA benefits, go to VA's website at www.va.gov or call our toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.


VA Announces 55 Per Diem Awards for Homeless Assistance



WASHINGTON (July 14, 2008) -- Homeless veterans and those who help them received a significant boost in their efforts when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made 55 new awards to public and private nonprofit organizations that assist homeless veterans.

"It's important that VA continue to help our nation's homeless veterans, many of whom are still dealing with the effects of past conflicts," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  "These awards provide needed resources to hard working, caring and compassionate people who provide one-on-one care and services to our veterans every day in their own communities."

Today's announcement of awards to 55 community-based  organizations in 24 states will add over 1,000 transitional housing beds to the 9,400 beds already available for homeless veterans because of VA grants for the homeless.

VA has the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country.  It is the only federal agency that provides substantial one-on-one contact with the homeless.  In many cities and rural areas, VA social workers and other clinicians conduct extensive outreach programs, clinical assessments, medical treatment, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and employment assistance.

Last year, VA committed more resources than at any time in its history for programs benefiting homeless veterans.  The Department committed $26 million in new funding to support about 2,000 new transitional housing beds, $12 million for seriously mentally ill veterans, terminally ill veterans, frail elderly veterans and women veterans, to include women with children, and $2 million for other programs.

VA has provided more than $350 million in grants and per diem payments since it initiated the Grant and Per Diem Program in 1994.

Since 1988, VA has partnered with hundreds of communities to support more than 1,500 "Stand Downs" across the nation.  Stand Downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and VA assistance.  For more information on VA's homeless programs, see http://www.va.gov/homeless/. <http://www.va.gov/homeless/>

VA operates the nation's largest integrated health care system, with 153 hospitals, more than 800 clinics, 135 nursing homes and 47
domiciliaries, treating about 1 million patients each week. 

For more information, visit the VA website at www.va.gov <http://www.va.gov/>  or contact VA's Homeless Veterans Programs Office
at (202) 461-7401, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.


A list of grant recipients is attached.

VA's Homeless Grants - 2008

State         City Recipient
Alaska    Fairbanks Fairbanks Rescue Mission
Arizona   Tucson Comin' Home, Inc.
California  Bakersfield Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.
  Colton Help for Future Leaders
  Lancaster Live Again Recovery Homes
  Lodi The Salvation Army a
California Corporation
  Los Angeles People Assisting the Homeless
(PATH)
  Los Angeles Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles, Inc.
  San Bernardino Red Carnation Foundation
  San Francisco (2) The Salvation Army
  San Jose Emergency Housing Consortium
of Santa Clara County
  Santa Clara Live Again Recovery Homes
Connecticut Danbury City of Danbury
Hartford South Park Inn, Inc.
Florida  Clearwater Homeless Emergency Project
Jacksonville Clara White Mission, Inc.
Ocala The Salvation Army a Georgia
Corporation
Orlando The Center for
Drug Free Living
Orlando The Tree of Life Ministries of
Orlando Inc.
Stuart Macedonia Community
Outreach
Ministries, Inc.

Tampa Volunteers of America of Florida West Palm Beach

 The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation
Georgia  Decatur Transition House, Inc.
Stone Mountain Transition House, Inc.
Indiana  Fort Wayne The Shepherd's House, Inc.
  Fort Wayne Volunteers of America of
Indiana, Inc.
Kentucky Lexington Hope Center, Inc.
Louisiana Baton Rouge Metamorphosis, Inc.
Massachusetts Leeds United Veterans of America (dba
Soldier On)
Minnesota St. Cloud The Salvation Army
Missouri St. Louis Missouri Department of Mental
Health
Multiple sites  Society of St. Vincent De Paul
of St. Louis
North Carolina Ashville Asheville Buncombe Community
Christian Ministry, Inc.
Durham Triangle Residential Options for

Substance Abusers
Nebraska Lincoln People's City Mission
Omaha Siena/Francis House
Omaha Stephen Center, Inc.
Omaha The Salvation Army
New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico Veteran's Integration
Center
Nevada Reno The Ridge House, Inc.
New York Brooklyn Fitzgerald House, Inc.
Brooklyn Black Veterans for Social Justice
New York City Volunteers of America of Greater
New York
Binghamton Volunteers of America of
Western New York, Inc
Oregon Bend Central Oregon Veterans Outreach
Pennsylvania Cowansville Mechling Shakley Veterans
Center
Harrisburg YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
Lancaster Tabor Community Services
Texas Dallas The Salvation Army a Georgia
Corporation
Dallas Union Gospel Mission
Virginia Roanoke Total Action Against Poverty
Vermont Bellows Falls Phoenix Houses of New England
Washington Longview Longview Housing Authority
Seattle The Salvation Army
Spokane Pioneer Human Services
Wisconsin Milwaukee Guest House of Milwaukee



VA Launches Expansion in Veterans Health Facilities
Peake: 44 New Clinics Bring Care Closer to Home
 


WASHINGTON (June 26, 2008) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake today announced plans to create 44 new community-based outpatient clinics to bring the world-class health care of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) closer to home for veterans in 21 states.

"VA continues to make access to care easier through an expanding outpatient system focused not only on primary treatment but also prevention of disease, early detection, and health promotion," Peake said.

The new clinics, scheduled to be activated over the next 15 months, will increase VA's network of independent and community-based clinics to 782, an increase of more than 100 in five years.

This growth in community clinics has helped VA meet veterans' expectations for prompt, quality service, with 98 percent of veterans seen within 30 days in all types of VA primary care facilities throughout the country.

In addition to on-site primary care staff, today's modern outpatient clinics frequently feature state-of-the-art telehealth systems permitting veterans to maintain regular contact with doctors in specialties from cardiac care to mental health at regional VA hospitals linked for video consultations, coupled with telemetry of health data or images.

A highly acclaimed national health records system allows practitioners at even remote clinics to review patient records stored at VA facilities anywhere in the country.

VA's 21 regional networks develop applications for new clinics in consideration of reducing the distance veterans travel to their nearest VA hospital or clinic, as well as local demand, existing hospital, clinic workload and other factors.

A listing of the newly approved clinics is attached.

VA's Planned Sites for New Outpatient Clinics

Alabama (2) -- Marshall County, Wiregrass

Alaska -- Matanuska-Susitna Borough area

Arkansas (2) -- Ozark, White County

California -- East Bay-Alameda County area

Florida -- Summerfield

Georgia (4) -- Baldwin County, Coweta County, Glynn County, Liberty
County

Indiana (2) -- Miami County, Morgan County

Iowa -- Wapello County

Louisiana (5) -- Lake Charles, Leesville, Natchitoches, St. Mary Parish,
Washington Parish

Maine -- Lewiston-Auburn area

Minnesota (2) -- Douglas County, Northwest Metro

Missouri -- Franklin County

New Mexico -- Rio Rancho

North Carolina (2) -- Robeson County, Rutherford County

North Dakota -- Grand Forks County

Ohio -- Gallia County

Oklahoma (4) -- Altus, Craig County, Enid, Jay

Tennessee (3) -- Giles County, Maury County, McMinn County

Texas (5) -- Katy, Lake Jackson, Richmond, Tomball, El Paso County

Virginia (3) -- Augusta County, Emporia, Wytheville

West Virginia -- Greenbrier County


VA Reaches Out to Women Veterans
Department Hosts 4th Quadrennial Summit


WASHINGTON (June 19, 2008) - The Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues will take place at the Westin Washington, D.C., City Center from June 20-22.  Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said the three-day meeting will help ensure that women veterans know about the benefits and health care they have earned. 

"With more women than ever serving in our armed forces, this public forum will bring visibility to the issues important to women veterans of all eras," Peake said. "Today, women are important contributors to the military and valued members of the veterans community."

Recognizing the valor, service and sacrifice of America's 1.7 million women veterans, VA has created a comprehensive array of benefits and programs.

Women veterans are entitled to the same benefits and medical care as their male counterparts, including health care, disability compensation, education assistance, work-study allowance, vocational rehabilitation, employment and counseling services, insurance, home loan benefits, nursing home care, survivor benefits and various burial benefits.

In addition, VA also has a multitude of services and programs that respond to the unique needs of women veterans, including pap smears, mammography, and general reproductive health care, substance abuse counseling, counseling for sexual trauma, and evaluation and treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Today, over 200,000 women are serving in the armed forces.  About 11 percent of the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq are women.

According to a recent "hospital report card" by VA, the Department's screening for breast and cervical cancer for women in VA facilities exceeds screening in private-sector facilities, but women veterans lag behind their male counterparts in some quality measurements. 

VA has already launched an aggressive program to ensure women veterans receive the highest quality of care, including $32.5 million to purchase additional equipment to meet the health care needs of women. This includes full field digital mammography equipment, stereotactic imaging technology, specialized ultrasound and biopsy equipment and DEXA scanners for bone density measurements.  The status of health care for women veterans will be a major topic at the summit.

There is a women veterans program manager at every VA medical center, a women's liaison at every community based outpatient clinic and a women veterans coordinator at every VA regional office.

Health Care "Report Card" Gives VA High Marks
Peake: Demonstrates VA's Openness and Accountability


WASHINGTON (June 13, 2008) - A new "hospital report card" by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives the Department's health care system high marks, with VA facilities often outscoring private-sector health plans in standards commonly accepted by the health care industry.

"This report is a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of care VA provides to our veterans," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "From waiting times and staffing levels to hospital accreditation and patient satisfaction, this report demonstrates VA is providing high quality care to the veterans we serve."

Among the report's findings:

* 98 percent of veterans were seen within 30 days at primary care facilities, 97 percent at specialty clinics.  (Veterans requiring
emergency care are seen immediately.)

* All of VA's 153 medical centers are accredited by the independent Joint Commission which accredits all U.S. health care facilities.

* The quality scores for older veterans are similar to those for younger veterans.

Although screening for breast and cervical cancer for women in VA facilities exceeds screening in private-sector facilities, women veterans lag behind their male counterparts in some quality measurements, the report noted. 

VA has already launched an aggressive program to ensure women veterans receive the highest quality of care, including placement of women advocates in every outpatient clinic and medical center.  Health care will be a major topic at VA's National Summit on Women Veterans Issues scheduled for June 20-22 in Washington.

The report also found minority veterans are generally less satisfied with inpatient and outpatient care than white veterans.  That disparity
will be the focus of an in-depth study, based upon input from veterans, which will be completed this summer.

"Disparities in treatment and satisfaction based on gender or ethnic background are unacceptable," Peake said. "VA has a robust program to look at disparities and to deal with the underlying causes."

The report card is available on the Internet at http://www.va.gov/health/docs/Hospital_Quality_Report.pdf.  In February, Congress directed VA to complete the report card, highlighting measurements of quality, safety, timeliness, efficiency and "patient-centeredness."

"This report demonstrates VA's determination to be open and accountable for the quality and safety of the care we provide," Peake said. "No other health care organization provides this much information about its ability to care for its patients."

VA Names 13 to Rural Health Advisory Committee
Peake: Group Includes "Strong Advocates" for Vets in Rural Areas


WASHINGTON (June 5, 2008) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake has appointed 13 people to a new Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, which will advise him on health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas.

"This distinguished panel includes strong advocates for the needs of VA patients in rural areas," Peake said. "This is an important step in expanding access to VA's world-class health care system for veterans."

The 13-member group will examine ways to enhance Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services for veterans in rural areas by evaluating current programs and identifying barriers to health care. 

The committee, chaired by James F. Ahrens, former head of the Montana Hospital Association, includes affected veterans, rural health experts in academia, state and federal professionals who focus on rural health, state-level veterans affairs officials, and leaders of veterans service organizations.

A list of the members of VA's Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee is attached.

Membership VA's Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee

* James F. Ahrens of Cascade, Mont.  Former member of Montana governor's task force on health care.
* Dr. Robert Moser of Tribune, Kan.  Physician who practices in rural Kansas and Colorado.
* Cynthia Barrigan of Centreville, Va.  Veteran, now acting executive director of Virginia Telehealth Network.
* Charles Abramson of Missoula, Mont.  Air Force veteran who served on the medical staff ethics committee of St. Patrick Hospital.
* Maj. Gen. John W. Libby of Sidney, Maine.  Adjutant general of the Maine National Guard.
* Hilda Heady of Morgantown, W.Va.  Social worker and associate vice president for West Virginia Rural Health Association.
* Dr. Ronald Franks of Theodore, Ala.  Psychiatrist and vice president of the College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.
* Bruce Behringer of Johnson City, Tenn.  Assistant vice president at East Tennessee State University for Rural and Community Health.
* Rachel Gonzales Hanson of Uvalde, Texas.  Member of National Association of Community Health Centers.
* Tom Ricketts, Ph.D., of Chapel Hill, N.C.  Director of North Carolina Rural Health Research Program.
* Michael Dobmeier of South Grand Forks, N.D.  National Judge Advocate of the Disabled American Veterans and president of the North Dakota Veterans Home Foundation.
* Terry Schow of Ogden, Utah.  Veteran and executive director of the Utah Division of Veterans Affairs.
* James Floyd of Salt Lake City.  Native American and director of the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center.
Top