Army to review mental health compensation
by Gregg Zoroya
Jun. 05, 2012
USA TODAY News
Tucson Citizen
The Army says it will pore through — in less than 90 days — about 190,000 medical files of current and former soldiers dating to 2001 to see whether any were shortchanged on retirement compensation for mental health problems.
Army Secretary John McHugh had announced the unprecedented review three weeks ago, but details about the scope of the effort surfaced this week.
The estimated 190,000 cases represent about 160,000 soldiers who went through medical examinations — in some cases more than once — since 2001, says Lt. Col. Richard Paz, executive officer for a task force leading the effort.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who has pushed hard for a broad review, says she was pleased “that the Army is taking sweeping steps to review this problem, (but) it will be essential that it’s done right. That means prompt attention to the problems of servicemembers identified during the review and quick action to implement and enforce solutions.”
The 10-year review was prompted by a scandal at the Madigan Army Medical Center near Tacoma, Wash., where post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses of soldiers seeking medical retirements were downgraded, potentially reducing pension payments.
“(The review is) going to be hard to execute,” says Maj. Gen. Richard Thomas, new head of the Army’s Western Regional Medical Command. “But let’s satisfy these soldiers.”
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