5,771,000 expected at VA in 2009

Veterans Affairs Health Dept. Undersecretary addresses House Appropriations Subcommittee
March 6th, 2008 by Staff · No Comments
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs met today to discuss the FY2009 budget for Veterans Affairs.

Chairman of the committee Chef Edwards (D-TX) briefly introduced the panelist and commended the efforts of Veterans Affairs in providing medical treatment for injured vets.

Undersecretary for the Health Dept. of Veterans Affairs Michael Kussman spoke on the President’s FY2009 budget which sets aside $41.2 billion for Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care—a $2.3 billion increase over the 2008 budget. He spoke of the need to implement recommendations offered by the Dole-Shalala Commission which he said provide a powerful outline to ensuring that military personnel injured during the “Global War on Terror” receive the necessary aid and medical assistance. He said the 2009 budget request will achieve two main goals of the VA: 1. to provide “timely, accessible, and high-quality health care [to their] highest priority patients,” and 2. to advance “collaborative efforts with the Department of Defense (DoD).”

He also promised to provide “compassionate care” for veterans suffering from mental health issues such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said that VA expects to treat about 5,771,000 patients in 2009. Kussman also said that in April 2006, over 250,000 “unique” patients were waiting more than 30 days to receive their treatment but that as of January 2001, that figure has been reduced to just over 69,000.

http://talkradionews.com/2008/03/veterans-affairs-
health-dept-undersecretary-addresses-house-appropriations-subcommittee/



Dole-Shalala Commission has been looked at and it should not be done. It falls short of what is really needed. The other thing is none of them will be held accountable when they are out of office next year.

Timeline for VA changes not remotely realistic

On the basis of testimony given during an Oct. 17 hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, especially statements from the chairman of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, I do not believe that the timeline in the president's legislation is remotely realistic.

Equitable Care for Veterans

By Daniel K. Akaka
Saturday, November 3, 2007; Page A19

There has been much discussion recently, including in an Oct. 21 Post editorial, about the Dole-Shalala commission on veterans' disabilities and the need for prompt action on its recommendations. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have reviewed the recommendations, which focus primarily on collaboration between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs on meeting the needs of service members injured in combat.

Most of the suggestions are worthy and, indeed, much work is underway on some of the points. There are, however, some conclusions about which I have serious concerns.
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