Alaska Veterans not being taken care of properly

Alaska Native veterans dissatisfied with health services
By JILL FANKHAUSER
Alaska Star
Alaska Native veteran Walter Sampson wants to know why the U.S. government, and Veterans Affairs specifically, have not kept their promise to care for him and his veteran friends.

“For the last 38 years I have been trying to cut the red tape,” Sampson said. “And until this point, I've been unable to.”

Sampson, a Vietnam veteran, spoke to a panel of leaders from the National Guard, VA, Indian Health Services, Alaska Federation of Natives and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Oct.23. The panel discussed what each group is doing to increase quality and access to health care in rural Alaska, and what the future may look like.

Barriers to health care are often caused by geographical and financial challenges, as well as access to medical specialists or community health aides, said panelist Chris Mandregan, Alaska director of the federal Indian Health Service.
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