Senator Valde Garcia has successfully passed his proposal to eliminate the Veteran Service Organizations program that provides assistance to American Veterans who need help with their claims going through the Veterans Affairs system. The bill moves to the Michigan House. WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!!!! Tell them to oppose this bill. If you have used the VSO’s tell them your story too.
You can read the comments made by senators here http://www.michiganvotes.org/forum/forums/t/62840.aspx
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To: POLITICAL EDITORS
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Contact: Craig Roberts of The American Legion, +1-202-263-2982 Office, +1-202-406-0887 Cell
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WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.
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“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”
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The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, “This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ‘ to care for him who shall have borne the battle’ given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm’s way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America’s veterans!”
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Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group’s early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, ” There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran’s personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable.”
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Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm’s way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran’s condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.
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“I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted,” said Commander Rehbein, “is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President’s financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.
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“I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining,” concluded the Commander.
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SOURCE The American Legion
WASHINGTON (January 9, 2009) — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
has provided $21.7 million to its regional health care systems to
improve services specifically designed for veterans in rural areas.
“This special allocation is the latest down payment on VA’s
commitment to meet the needs of veterans living in rural areas,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “VA will take to our
rural veterans the health care services they have earned.”
Within the last year, VA has launched a major rural health
initiative. The Department has already created a 13-member committee to
advise the VA secretary on issues affecting rural veterans, opened three
rural health resource centers to better understand rural health issues,
rolled out four new mobile health clinics to serve 24 predominately
rural counties, announced the opening of 10 new rural outreach clinics
in 2009 and launched a fleet of 50 new mobile counseling centers.
The extra funding is part of a two-year VA program to improve the
access and quality of health care for veterans in geographically
isolated areas. The program focuses on several areas, including access
to health care, providing world-class care, the use of the latest
technology, recruiting and retaining a highly educated workforce and
collaborating with other organizations.
More specifically, the new funds will be used to increase the
number of mobile clinics, establish new outpatient clinics, expand
fee-based care, explore collaborations with federal and community
partners, accelerate the use of telemedicine deployment, and fund
innovative pilot programs.
The new funds will be distributed according to the proportion of
veterans living in rural areas within each VA regional health care
system, called VISNs, for “Veterans Integrated Service Networks.”
VISNs with less than 3 percent of their patients in rural areas
will receive $250,000. Those with population of rural veterans between
3 percent and 6 percent will receive $1 million each. And VISNs with
more than 6 percent of their veterans population in rural areas will
receive $1.5 million.
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Special VA Funding for Rural Health
(By VISN number and VISN Headquarters)
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#1. Bedford, Mass., $1 million
#2. Rochester, N.Y., $1 million
#3. New York, N.Y., $250,000
#4. Wilmington, Del., $1 million
#5. Baltimore, Md., $250,000
#6. Durham, N.C., $1.5 million
#7. Atlanta, Ga., $1.5 million
#8. Bay Pines, Fla., $1 million
#9. Nashville, Tenn., $1.5 million
#10. Cincinnati, Ohio, $1 million
#11. Ann Arbor, Mich., $1 million
#12. Chicago, Ill., $1 million
#15. Kansas City, Mo., $1.5 million
#16. Jackson, Miss., $1.5 million
#17. Arlington, Texas, $1 million
#18. Mesa, Ariz., $1 million
#19. Denver, Colo., $1 million
#20. Vancouver, Wash., $1 million
#21. Palo Alto, Calif., $1 million
#22. Long Beach, Calif., $250,000
#23. Lincoln, Neb., $1.5 million
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that eligible veterans will see an increase in the mileage reimbursement they receive for travel to VA facilities for medical care.
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced today that he will use his authority to raise the mileage reimbursement from the 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile for all eligible veterans.
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“We owe it to our veterans to give them the best care possible,†said Peake. “The increase will once again provide assistance to our veterans, especially in these difficult economic times, to help offset gasoline costs and to assist veterans with access to the VA’s world-class health system.â€
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Congress, which mandates such increases, recently provided funding to VA to increase the reimbursement rate, which goes into effect on November 17, 2008. Service connected veterans, veterans receiving VA pensions, and veterans with low incomes are eligible for the reimbursement.
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“As I have travelled the country and spoken with many of our veterans, they have expressed the need for such an increase,†added Peake. “We are pleased to be able to provide them with the increase needed and we will continue to work with our veterans to ensure they receive the quality care they need.â€
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While increasing the payment, the current deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements will remain frozen at $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, and capped at a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month. On January 9, 2009, these deductibles will decrease to $3 for a one way trip, $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $16 per calendar month. Deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.
WASHINGTON (November 17, 2008) – The American Legion is expressing strong support for a report by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that promises better care for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War illness.
The report, Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Scientific Findings and Recommendations, was released today by the VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (RAC). In it, the committee identified many scientific issues for which additional research is needed. Highest priority was given to research focused on identifying effective treatments for Gulf War illness. High priority was also given to research directed at identifying objective biological markers associated with Gulf War illness, especially those that advance efforts to improve diagnostic testing. The report also recommends annual allocations of not less than $60 million for Gulf War research in the federal budget.
“The American Legion is very pleased that research aimed at identifying effective treatment for the various maladies plaguing our Gulf War veterans is at the top of the VA committee’s list of priorities,†said National Commander David Rehbein. “After all, it has been more than 17 years since the end of the 1991 Gulf War and it is about time that these warriors’ war-related health problems be addressed aggressively,†he continued. “This is a solid report and The American Legion urges the Secretary [of VA] to act quickly on the committee’s recommendations,’ added Rehbein.
According to the RAC, about 25 percent to 32 percent of Gulf War veterans are affected by a complex of symptoms, commonly referred to as Gulf War illness, over and above rates in contemporary military personnel who did not deploy to the 1990-91 Gulf War. This equates to between 175,000 and 210,000 veterans out of the nearly 700,000 troops deployed during the war. The symptoms of Gulf War illness typically include some combination of chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, widespread pain, unexplained fatigue, chronic diarrhea, skin rashes, respiratory problems and other abnormalities. Even more alarming, according to the report, “[t]he federal Gulf War research effort has yet to provide tangible results in achieving its ultimate objective, that is, to improve the health of ill Gulf War veterans.â€Â A small number of treatments have been studied and none have been shown to provide significant benefit for a substantial number of veterans.
The American Legion is encouraged that the report also addresses the relationship between research and VA disability benefits. VA’s ability to compensate veterans for disabilities related to their Gulf War service is directly related to research and other scientific findings. In 1998, Congress passed legislation that directed VA to contract with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review available research and issue reports that are used by the Secretary of the VA to make decisions regarding Gulf War-related disability compensation. There have been nine reports released to date but none have resulted in additional compensation benefits for ill Gulf War veterans. The committee concluded that the IOM reports have been “skewed and limited by a restrictive approach to the scientific tasks mandated by Congress, an approach directed by VA in commissioning the reports.â€Â  The committee recommended that VA contract with IOM to redo previously completed Gulf War and Health reports to adhere to requirements set forth by Congress.
The RAC, established by Public Law 105-368, is a panel of prominent scientists and distinguished veterans that provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on proposed research plans and strategies related to understanding and treating the health consequences of military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the 1990-91 Gulf War. This is the committee’s first major report since 2004.
With a current membership of 2.6-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
The State of Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) will sponsor a series of Job Fairs during Hire Vets Job Fair Week, September 22 – 26, 2008.
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Monday, September 22, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Charlotte, Michigan at VFW Post 2406, 695 Lansing Road.
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Monday, September 22, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Wyoming, Michigan at VFW Post 702, 2554 Burlingame Avenue SW.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Alpena, Michigan at VFW Post 2496, 2900 Connon Street.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Kingsford, Michigan at the Michigan Army National Guard Armory, 401 S. Carpenter Avenue.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at the Michigan Army National Guard Armory 1170 E. Portage Avenue.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Redford, Michigan at VFW Post 345, 27345 Schoolcraft Road.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Traverse City, Michigan at VFW Post 2780, 3400 Veterans Drive.
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Friday, September 26, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Flint, Michigan at VFW Post 3087, G4148 Corunna Road.
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Friday, September 26, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM DLEG will conduct a job fair in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan at VFW Post 3033, 4841 E. Pickard Street.
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Information about Department of Labor and Economic Growth job fairs can be found at www.michigan.gov/veteranjobfairs. You may e-mail marind@michigan.gov for information.
http://maps.google.com
Veterans Committee hearing on outreach to Guard and Reserve veterans Wednesday
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today highlighted an investigative report issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General (IG), on the efforts of VA to provide transition assistance to veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The Inspector General found VA is not meeting its clear legal obligation to inform new veterans of the benefits they may have earned through their service,†said Akaka. “Especially alarming is the finding that Guard and Reserve veterans made up over half of those uninformed, even though they compose only about a quarter of servicemembers deployed.
“I am deeply concerned that Guard and Reserve veterans, who serve in combat honorably alongside their fellow troops, are not receiving the same level of support from VA. These veterans sacrificed to fulfill their obligation to our country, VA must fulfill its obligation to them.â€
Among other findings, the IG’s audit found that in 2006,VA failed to send individual notices of possible benefits to over 65,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Over 36,000 of those who were not sent notices from VA were members of the Guard and Reserve.
Senator Akaka introduced legislation last year to expand VA outreach, with an emphasis on Guard and Reserve veterans. This provision was included in H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which was signed into law on January 28, 2008. Under law, VA must inform Guard and Reserve veterans of the benefits they may be eligible by mail.
This Wednesday (July 23), Chairman Akaka will hold a public oversight hearing on the effectiveness of VA’s overall outreach efforts to returning Guard and Reserve members. The hearing will be webcast live from the Committee’s website, www.veterans.senate.gov.
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