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RAO
BULLETIN15 April 2016
HTML Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
! Arti"l# S$%"t
' (O( ' )
04 == NDAA for 2017
--------------------------------------------------- (Timeline)
05 == DoD Disability Retirement [04] -- (e!eran"e #ay
$ron%f&lly Ta'e)
0 == Na!y *i+b&ilin% #lan ------------------------- (,i!e
ear . /1 illion)
07 == #$3A [70] ----------------------------- (tat&s as of
ar"* 26 201)
0 == #$3A [71] ----------------------- (one ,ra%ments
Ret&rne to 89)
10 == #$3A Re"o!eries ------------------ (Re+orte 01 t*r& 15
A+r 201)
' *A ' )
17 == :A $*istleblo;ers [4&ate ,ollo;-&+ n <
ases)
1 == :A A++eals [22] --------- ($*ite ?o&se $ant
on%ressional !er*a&l)
1 == D@# [07] ----- (AA to obby on%ress on #ro+ose *an%es)
1 == :A ommission on are [02] -------- (Bliminate All :As C
#s)
21 == :A ommission on are [0
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' GENERAL INTEREST ' )
121 == Notes of nterest ------------------------------------ (01
t*r& 15 A+r 201)
122 == Data8A --------------------- (?o; to btain nfo on a ity
of nterest)
12< == Raioa"ti!e ombs --- (?o; t*e 899 ae Dro++in% T*em
Ro&tine)
12 == ?a++y irt*ay on%
--------------------------------------------- (?istory)
127 == Fro"eries ------------------------- (21 Tri"Gs to aGe
t*em ast on%er)12 == Remember $*en
--------------------------------------------- (Nostal%ia (4)
1
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• ay 2&est a ire"t ta' ref&n from t*e Defense ,inan"e an
A""o&ntin% er!i"e6 if it o""&rs
&rin% t*e same ta' year as t*eir se+aration6 or file an
amene ta' ret&rn ;it* t*e nternal Re!en&e er!i"e if t*e
isb&rsement is ;it*in t*e t*ree-year stat&te of
limitations for filin% amene ta' ret&rns9 T*e on&s
s*o&l not be on
t*e !eteran to &n;in an "orre"t t*e mistaGe6 oore sai9 Mt
s*o&l *a!e ne!er been an iss&e to be%in ;it*9 T*ey
s*o&l been +ai t*eir f&ll amo&nt ;it*o&t
L&m+in% t*ro&%* *oo+s9 T*e a""o&ntin% error
relate to ta'es an isability se!eran"e +ayments mi%*t stem from t*e
systems
s*ort"omin%s ;*en ientifyin% D# "ate%ories9 $*ile
"ombat-inL&re !ets re"ei!in% D# arent s&++ose to be
ta'e on t*at +ayment6 t*e %o!ernment oes ;it**ol ta'es on
isability se!eran"e +ayments for ser!i"e members
;*o are se+arate be"a&se of non-"ombat-relate inL&ries9
MFoin% for;ar6 t*e e+artment is ;orGin% on a +ro"ess
to allo; ta' ;it**olin% e"isions to be mae ;it* res+e"t to t*e
se"on %ro&+ of members base on information
a!ailable +rior to se+aration6 sai DoD s+oGesman att*e; Allen6
o!er email9 Mn aition6 t*e e+artment is
;orGin% on im+ro!in% t*e +ro"ess to ens&re t*at members
se+arate for "ombat-relate isabilities o not *a!e ta'es
#a%e 5 of 1+6
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;it**el from t*eir se+aration +ay9 $*en im+lemente6 t*ese
+ro"ess "*an%es s*o&l %reatly re&"e t*e risG of ta'
;it**olin% errors9 Defense also oesnt Gno; *o; many !eterans
;ere im+ro+erly ta'e b&t Moes not belie!e t*e
+roblem is as ;ies+rea as re"ent re+orts mi%*t
s&%%est6 Allen sai9
T*e 201 ombat-nL&re :eterans Ta' ,airness A"t ;ill
re>&ire t*e e+artment to ientify affe"te !eterans6
notify t*em6 an ens&re t*e %o!ernment +ays t*em ba"G9 t also
e'tens t*e stat&te of limitations on amene ta'
ret&rns for affe"te !eterans so t*at Mt*ose ;*o ;ere ;ron%e
lon% a%o "an still re"ei!e t*eir f&ll an
+ro+er +ayments6 $arner sai9 et;een 106000 an 116000
ser!i"e members are mei"ally retire from &ty ea"* year6
an t*at %ro&+ in"l&es t*ose se+arate be"a&se of
"ombat-relate inL&ries9 MDoD *as &nL&stly ;it**el
ta'es
es+ite "learly-;ritten feeral la; an a "o&rt o+inion to t*e
"ontrary6 sai ooEman9 M$e *a!e a res+onsibility to
ri%*t t*is ;ron% an ens&re t*at o&r nations ;o&ne
!eterans re"ei!e t*e benefits t*ey are ri%*tf&lly &e9
Allen
sai t*at t*e Defense De+artment Moes its best to &+*ol its
le%al obli%ations to ;it**ol ta'es for t*e Treas&ry
absent "lear e!ien"e t*at t*e +ayments are not s&bLe"t to
in"ome ta'9
ranon Da!is6 an Army !eteran is"*ar%e in 2005 be"a&se
of "ombat-relate inL&ries *e s&ffere ;*ile ser!in%
in ra>6 lost /6000 be"a&se Defense mistaGenly ta'e *is
isability se!eran"e +ay9 M re"all *earin% t*at t*ere ;as a
"om+&ter +roblem relate to isability se!eran"e +ayments6
b&t no one e!er e'+laine ;*at neee to o to
re"o!er t*e money t*at ;as taGen from me6 sai Da!is6 ;*o li!es
in ArGansas an s&++orts t*e ooEman-$arner
bill9 MT*is money ;o&l *a!e *el+e me an my family as
;e aL&ste to life after bein% is"*ar%e from t*emilitary9
e"a&se 11 years *a!e +asse sin"e t*e money ;as taGen6 no; *a!e
no ;ay to %et it ba"G &nless t*is
le%islation is +asse9 [o&r"eK Fo!B'e"9"om . Iellie &nney
. A+ril 076 201 @@]
N-4 S8ip%$ildin! l-n Fi# .#-r < =>1 Billion
T*e 899 Na!y ;ill seeG /194 billion to b&y
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Na!y last ;eeG anno&n"e t*at Feneral Dynami"s ;ill be
t*e +rime "ontra"tor6 ;it* ?&ntin%ton n%alls t*e
s&b"ontra"tor9 Feneral Dynami"s ;ill re"ei!e a "ontra"t
later t*is year to +ro&"e t*e ia%rams6 ra;in%s an
information ne"essary to start "onstr&"tion9 [o&r"eK
#ortlan #ress Bnter+rise . Tony a+a""io . A+ril 06 201 @@]
OW?MIA Upd-t# 0 S St-t$, -, o/ M-r"8 26@ 2016
T*ere are 1621 Ameri"ans are no; liste by DoD as missin% an
&na""o&nte-for from t*e :ietnam $arK :ietnam -
1624 (:N-46 :-7) aosP&este by :ietnam &rin%
is"&ssions
sin"e 2009 D&e to in"rease military-to-military "oo+eration6
8 Na!y assets are no; allo;e to +arti"i+ate in
&ner;ater s&r!ey an re"o!ery o+erations6 ;*en
re>&este9 T*ese ste+s6 lon% a!o"ate by t*e ea%&e6 are
no;"omin% to fr&ition an are ro&tinely raise by 8 offi"ials
at all le!els9
After a ro&%* +erio6 Loint fiel o+erations in aos are
no; in"reasin%ly +ro&"ti!e6 e!en t*o&%* more
iffi"<
t*an else;*ere9 A""o&ntin% efforts *a slo;e &e to ao
Fo!ernment infle'ibility6 attem+tin% to o!er-+ri"e
+ayment for *eli"o+ter s&++ort an enyin% +ermission
for %ro&n trans+ort to a""essible in"ient sites9 aos is no;
s*o;in% %reater fle'ibility6 earlier *a!in% in"rease t*e
n&mber of 8 +ersonnel +ermitte in-"o&ntry6 no; allo;in%
%ro&n trans+ort to a""essible sites6 an *as rene;e a
b&siness li"ense to a forei%n "om+any to +ro!ie reliable6
small *eli"o+ter s&++ort9 $*en *el+f&l6 :ietnamese
;itnesses are also allo;e to +arti"i+ate in Loint 8-ao
o+erations9 T*e ao Fo!ernment +ermits DAs tony ea"* #$3A
s+e"ialist to f&ll time in"o&ntry *o;e!er6
is still far too limite in terms of o+eratin% o&tsie t*e
"onfines of s"*e&le D#AA fiel o+erations9 Also6 es+ite
stron% s&++ort from6 an inter!entions by6 8 Ambassaor Dan
l&ne6 t*ere are still "*allen%es t*at m&st be
aresse an resol!e9
Relate to DAs tony ea"* Team6 one amboia s+e"ialist ;orGs
f&ll time at t*e 8 Bmbassy in #*nom #en*6
an resear"* an fiel o+erations in amboia *a!e re"ei!e e'"ellent
s&++ort9 T;o tony ea"* +ersonnel *a!e for
years rotate on tem+orary &ty in an o&t of :ietnam6
"olle"tin% information !ia ar"*i!al resear"* an inter!ie;s
of +otential ;itnesses9 :ietnam ;as lon% a%o re>&este to
+ermit6 an is still re+ortely "onsierin%6 +ermanent
stat&s for t*ese t;o #$3A s+e"ialists9 &""essi!e 8
Ambassaors *a!e stron%ly s&++orte t*is im+ortant
mo!e6 b&t in"reases in bilateral military relations
s*o&l be s&ffi"ient to o!er"ome any rel&"tan"e9 T*e
8
Ambassaor to aos *as also s&++orte f&ll &se of t*e
ao s+e"ialist9 t is *o+e t*at t*e e'+ane bilateral
#a%e of 1+6
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relations*i+s ;it* aos an :ietnam ;ill mean t*ese +ositi!e
e"isions ;ill not be f&rt*er elaye9 T*e tony ea"*
s+e"ialists are sorely neee to a&%ment t*e in!esti%ation
+ro"ess ;*ile ;itnesses are still li!in% an to fa"ilitate
lo"atin% aitional in"ient sites for follo;-&+ D#AA
re"o!eries9
T*e %reatest obsta"les to in"rease :ietnam $ar an ;orl;ie
a""o&ntin% efforts are 1) too fe; >&alifie
s"ientists to lea re"o!ery teams an 2) &nreliable f&nin%
t*at *as "a&se 8 "an"ellation of s"*e&le o+erations6
t*&s senin% mi'e6 ne%ati!e si%nals to forei%n %o!ernments an
"o&nter+arts9 T*ese "*allen%es are bein% aresse by r9
i"*ael innin%ton6 name to lea t*e M"om+lete reor%aniEation of t*e
a""o&ntin% "omm&nity ire"te by
former e"retary of Defense *&"G ?a%el9 in"e o!er 0U of 8
losses in aos an 0U in amboia o""&rre in
areas ;*ere :ietnamVs for"es o+erate &rin% t*e ;ar6 :ietnams
e'+ane +ro!ision of *el+f&l re"ors6 im+ro!e
an in"rease ar"*i!al resear"*6 inter!ie;s an fiel o+erations are
t*e "ore means to e'+an a""o&ntin% for
:ietnam $ar missin% +ersonnel9
i!e i%*tin%sK As of ,ebr&ary 226 2016 16 first-*an
li!e si%*tin% re+orts *a!e been re"ei!e sin"e 1756
none re"ently9 1641 (7924U) ;ere resol!eK 16
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• :ietnam - 54
• aos - 25
• *ina - <
• amboia - 40
An aitional < 8 +ersonnel ;ere a""o&nte for
bet;een 17< an 1756 a %ran total of 160259 T*ese
Ameri"ans ;ere a""o&nte for by &nilateral 8 effort in
areas ;*ere t*e 8 "o&l %ain a""ess at t*at time6 not &eto
%o!ernment-to-%o!ernment "oo+eration ;it* t*e +ost-;ar %o!ernments
of :ietnam6 aos or amboia9 ,or t*e
latest information6 "all t*e ea%&es ffi"e (70
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an%ero&s for "re;s to ;orG in be"a&se of +ossible
lanslies9 ?i%* on t*e stee+ mo&ntains of Ar&na"*al
#rees*6
alon% niaVs nort*east borer6 t*e re"o!ery team "limbe more t*an
6000 feet9 A""orin% to arine a+t9 Fre%
yn"*6 t*e team *iGe for t*ree ays to set &+ a base "am+6
t*en "limbe to t*e "ras* site e!ery ay6 "aref&lly siftin%
t*ro&%* irt to fin remains9 Xt ;as !ery +*ysi"ally
%r&elin% to %o to t*is +arti"&lar area an to "on&"t
t*is
re"o!ery6X sai yn"*6 a team leaer ;*o ;as not on t*is +roLe"t9
?e sai t*e team in"l&e 12 mainly military
members6 alon% ;it* anot*er oEen or so "ontra"tors9
Alon% ;it* t*e bone fra%ments6 t*e team fo&n ot*er
items asso"iate ;it* t*e "ras* b&t no +ersonal effe"ts6
s&"*
as o% ta%s or ;at"*es6 t*at "o&l ientify t*e "re;9 899
Defense e"retary As* arter6 ;*o *as been tra!elin% in
nia6 ;at"*e as ta+s ;as +laye an t*e remains ;ere +la"e in t*e
"asGets an loae onto a -17 air"raft for t*e
fli%*t *ome9 T*e #enta%on *as restate its "ommitment to families
of t*e t*o&sans of ser!i"emen still &na""o&nte
for from $orl $ar an t*e Iorean an :ietnam ;ars9 any of t*ose
families *a!e6 o!er t*e years6 "om+laine
bitterly of elay an e!en ne%le"t from t*e #enta%on
a%en"ies "*ar%e ;it* finin%6 re"o!erin% an ientifyin%
remains from o!erseas ;ars9
arterVs +ree"essor at t*e #enta%on6 *&"G ?a%el6 orere
t*e A a""o&ntin% b&rea&"ra"y to reor%aniEe an
"onsoliate as +art of an effort to im+ro!e its +erforman"e6
;*i"* also *as "ome &ner "riti"ism in on%ress9 8ner
in"rease s"r&tiny6 t*e #$3A offi"e *as in"rease t*e
n&mber of remains t*at ;ere ientifie last year6 to nearly
1006 an e'+e"ts to e'"ee t*at n&mber t*is year9 No more
e'"a!ations in nia are +lanne for t*e fis"al year t*atens on
e+t9
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,amily members seeGin% more information abo&t missin%
lo!e ones may also "all t*e follo;in% er!i"e
as&alty ffi"esK 899 Air ,or"e (00) 5
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n 15&i+ment an ;it*ra; o!er mo&ntains to frienly
lines9 ,ollo;in% t*e
;it*ra;al6 ?enerson ;as re+orte missin%9 ?e ;as
s&bse>&ently e"lare e"ease on De"9
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remains6 s"ientists from D#AA &se ental an "*est raio%ra+*y
"om+arison analyses6 ;*i"* mat"*e ?enersons
re"ors6 as ;ell as "ir"&mstantial an material e!ien"e6 an
ant*ro+olo%i"al analysis9
ooOoo
Army #f"9 A$%r#4 () *-$!8n6 206 of 8nion6 o&t* arolina ;as
s"*e&le for b&rial A+ril 12 in *is *ometo;n9
n A+ril 2
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Toay6 761 Ameri"ans remain &na""o&nte for from t*e
Iorean $ar9 8sin% a!an"es in te"*nolo%y6
ientifi"ations "ontin&e to be mae from remains t*at ;ere
+re!io&sly t&rne o!er by Nort* Iorean offi"ials
or
re"o!ere by Ameri"an teams9
World W-r II
The !epartment of !efense "#$%&'( (ccounting (genc) *!"((+
announced that the remains of the following ,.-.
servicemen from $orld $ar '' have been identified and
returned to their families for burial with full militar)
honors.
Na!y *ief #etty ffi"er ($// Gordon6 526 of ?&son6
$is"onsin6 ;as s"*e&le for b&rial ar"* &i"Gly "a+siEe9
T*e atta"G on t*e s*i+ res<e in 42 "as&alties6
in"l&in% Foron9 ,rom De"ember
141 to H&ne 1446 Na!y +ersonnel re"o!ere t*e remains of t*e
e"ease "re;6 ;*i"* ;ere s&bse>&ently interre in
t*e ?ala;a an N&&an& emeteries9
n e+tember 1476 tasGe ;it* re"o!erin% an ientifyin%
fallen 899 +ersonnel in t*e #a"ifi" T*eater6 members
of t*e Ameri"an Fra!es Re%istration er!i"e (AFR) isinterre t*e
remains of 899 "as&alties from t*e t;o
"emeteries an transferre t*em to t*e entral entifi"ation
aboratory at "*ofiel arra"Gs9 T*e laboratory staff
;as only able to "onfirm t*e ientifi"ations of &ently
b&rie t*e &nientifie remains in 4 +lots at t*e National
emorial emetery of t*e #a"ifi" (N#)6
Gno;n as t*e #&n"*bo;l6 in ?onol&l&9 n "tober 146 a
military boar "lassifie t*ose ;*o "o&l not be
ientifie as Mnon-re"o!erable6 in"l&in% Foron9 n A+ril 20156
t*e De+&ty e"retary of Defense iss&e a +oli"y
memoran&m ire"tin% t*e isinterment of &nGno;ns asso"iate
;it* t*e 8 Gla*oma9 n H&ne 156 20156 D#AA
+ersonnel be%an e'*&min% t*e remains from t*e N# for
analysis9 To ientify Forons remains6 s"ientists from
D#AA &se "ir"&mstantial e!ien"e an laboratory analysis6
to in"l&e ental "om+arisons6 ;*i"* mat"*e
Forons re"ors9
ooOoo
arine or+s %t9 7o8n C) Holl-d-46
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om+any "on&"te an intensi!e area sear"* in an attem+t to
re"o!er *&man remains bet;een airoGo ?arbor an
Bno%ai nlet9 ?o;e!er6 no remains ;ere fo&n9 ?ollaay ;as
e"lare non-re"o!erable9
n 20156 a D#AA in!esti%ation team tooG "&stoy of
osseo&s remains t*at ;ere &nilaterally t&rne o!er by a
lo"al
resient9 T*e resient tooG t*e team to t*e lo"ation ;*ere t*e
material ;as is"o!ere an aitional remains an
e!ien"e ;ere also re"o!ere9 To ientify ?ollaays remains6
s"ientists from D#AA an t*e Arme ,or"es DNAentifi"ation aboratory
&se "ir"&mstantial e!ien"e t;o ty+es of DNA analysis6
in"l&in% mito"*onrial DNA6
;*i"* mat"*e a maternal "o&sin6 an -"*romosome *ort Tanem
Re+eat DNA6 ;*i"* mat"*e a +aternal
ne+*e; as ;ell as ental "om+arison an ant*ro+olo%i"al analysis6
;*i"* mat"*e *is re"ors9
7o8n C) Holl-d-4
ooOoo
Army Air ,or"es ,li%*t ffi"er (#;#4 L) Go,,#tt6 2
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-- arine or+s #f"9 Ant8on4 Bro94n-6 of ?artfor6 onn96 ;*o ;as
lost fi%*tin% on Tara;a on No!9 206 14
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*A W8i,tl#%lo;#r, Upd-t# 3+ OSC < In-d#D$-t# Follo;$p In +
C-,#,
n t*e latest in its "ontin&in% s"r&tiny of t*e :eterans
Affairs De+artment6 t*e ffi"e of +e"ial o&nsel () on
A#R re+orte t*at it ;as fa<in% t*e e+artments mana%ers for
inae>&ate follo;-&+ on t*ree ;*istleblo;er "ases
affe"tin% *ealt* an safety9 T*e finin%s re+orte to t*e $*ite
?o&se an on%ress in!ol!e mei"al fa"ilities in
$est :ir%inia6 &+state Ne; orG an $as*in%ton6 D99
• n one "ase6 base on alerts from an anonymo&s
;*istleblo;er6 t*e B#":l#4 *A M#di"-l C#nt#r in $est
:ir%inia ;as Mfo&n to *a!e im+ro+erly s&bstit&te
+res"ribe anti+sy"*oti" mei"ations in orer to sa!e
money6 sai in a statement9 T*e :As ffi"e of ei"al ns+e"tor
fo&n t*at t*ese a"tions "reate a
t*reat to t*e *ealt* an safety of mental *ealt* +atients in
e"Gley an !iolate :A +oli"y9 T*e
;*istleblo;ers ot*er alle%ations ;ere not s&bstantiate6 an
:A offi"ials e"ie not to is"i+line t*e
mana%ers for t*e r&% s&bstit&tions be"a&se t*e
mana%ers ;ere M&nfamiliar ;it* :A +oli"y an t*eir
a"tions ;ere not Gno;in% an ;illf&l9 &t Min ot*er "ases6
in"l&in% in formal liti%ation6 t*e :A *as so&%*t
is"i+linary a"tion a%ainst senior offi"ials ;*o faile to
e'er"ise a++ro+riate o!ersi%*t6 sai9 T*e
+e"ial o&nsel "on"l&e t*at Mt*is is a more a++ro+riate
stanar6 an t*at is"i+line s*o&l *a!e been
"onsiere in res+onse to t*e mei"al ins+e"tors finin%s9
• n C-n-nd-i!$-@ N).96 em+loyees at a !eterans "risis line an
"all "enter !ol&nteers ;ere fo&n to be
inae>&ately traine6 as e!ien"e by elaye res+onses to !ets
;*o may be s&i"ial9 MT*e :A ffi"e of
ns+e"tor Feneral fo&n t*at ba"G-&+ "all "enters
ro&te some !eterans seeGin% *el+ to !oi"email6 an
sometimes neit*er t*e "risis line nor ba"G-&+ "enter
!ol&nteers immeiately "alle !eterans ba"G6
sai9 T*e +roblems ;ere is"lose by :A em+loyee Ho*n Fi&nta6
an mana%ers tooG ste+s to im+ro!e
trainin% an res+onsi!eness9 M?o;e!er6 t*e +e"ial o&nsel
"on"l&e t*ese a"tions o not ae>&ately
aress t*e :As la"G of o!ersi%*t of its ba"G-&+ "all "enters6
t*e sai6 notin% t*at some "ase
o&t"omes ;ere not tra"Ge9
• n a W-,8in!ton *A M#di"-l C#nt#r6 staff re%istere n&rse
Ho*n ea*y in 2014 is"lose to t*e +e"ial
o&nsel t*at t*e fa"ility *a faile to test fle'ible enos"o+es
for leaGs before 2009 M8sin% a leaG testin%
met*o6 r9 ea*y is"o!ere leaGin% enos"o+es an6 in res+onse6
e!elo+e ne; +ro"e&res for t*e"lini"6 assertin% t*at :A
s*o&l *a!e notifie t*e +atients of t*e fa<y
e>&i+ment6 sai9 MT*e :A
maintains t*at !is&al leaG ins+e"tions an t*e &se of
isinfe"ts ;ere s&ffi"ient to ientify an aress any
bio*aEars in its enos"o+es before re&sin% t*em6 s
statement sai9 &t t*e ;*istleblo;er +ro!ie
enos"o+e man&fa"t&rer %&ielines an ot*er information
t*at a++ears to "ontrai"t t*e :A6 a""orin% to
9 :A also sai it i not nee to notify +atients be"a&se it *a
fo&n no e!ien"e of an Ma!erse e!ent9
sai :A s*o&l *a!e "on!ene a "lini"al re!ie; boar an t*e
+e"ial o&nsels offi"e remains
&n"on!in"e t*at :As +osition is Mreasonable an s&++orte
by t*e fa"ts9
#a%e 1 of 1+6
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[o&r"eK Fo!B'e"9"om . *arles 9 larG . A+ril 6 201 @@]
*A App#-l, Upd-t# 22 S W8it# Ho$,# W-nt Con!r#,,ion-l
O#r8-$l
$*ite ?o&se offi"ials are +&s*in% on%ress to
o!er*a&l t*e a++eals +ro"ess for !eterans benefits "laims t*is
year6
notin% t*e s*rinGin% le%islati!e ;ino; an "allin% t*e system a
isaster9 M$ere failin% !eterans6 sai :eterans
Affairs De+&ty e"retary loan Fibson9 MT*is +ro"ess is
failin% !eterans9 Noboy "an efen t*e stat&s >&o
*ere9
ore t*an 4406000 !eterans *a!e a++eals "ases +enin% in t*e
benefits system6 a "aseloa t*at *as risen steaily in
re"ent years as offi"ials *a!e fo"&se on +&llin% o;n t*e
n&mber of ba"Glo%%e first-time "laims9 &t :A offi"ials*a!e
insiste t*e t;o arent "onne"te6 notin% t*e +er"enta%e of "ases
a++eale *as remaine steay9 nstea6 t*e
+roblem *as been t*e risin% n&mber of total "laims
from !eterans6 as more troo+s eal ;it* iss&es from t*e ;ars
in
ra>6 Af%*anistan an e!en :ietnam9
*#t#r-n, A//-ir, (#p$t4 S#"r#t-r4 Slo-n Gi%,on ,-4, t8# "$rr#nt
pro"#,, o/ 8-ndlin! "l-i, -pp#-l, i, /-ilin! #t,)
Toay6 t*e a!era%e "om+letion time for a++eals "ases e"ie
by t*e :eterans enefits Aministration is t*ree
years6 t*e a!era%e for "ases e"ie by t*e oar of :eterans A++eals
is fi!e years9 ffi"ials *a!e not seen in"reases
in t*e rate of s&""ess amon% t*e a++eals6 b&t *a!e note
t*at t*e +ro"ess is fr&stratin%ly "&mbersome for bot*
!eterans an staff9 :A leaers *a!e floate a +lan to %et t*at
+ro"ess o;n to &ner a year an a *alf for most "ases6
b&t t*ey nee "on%ressional inter!ention to re;orG
filin% timelines an e!ien"e s&bmission r&les9 T*eyre
*o+in%
t*e !eterans omnib&s loomin% in t*e enate ;ill in"l&e
t*ose "*an%es6 an are maGin% anot*er lobbyin% +&s* t*is
;eeG for its in"l&sion9 T*at in"l&es a ne; $*ite
?o&se e'+lainer on ei&m on $enesay mornin% t*at states
Mit
*as be"ome ob!io&s t*at t*is is t*e time for "*an%e an
remins la;maGers t*at :A "ant fi' t*e +roblem ;it*o&t
t*eir *el+9
Fibson sai *e ;orries t*at ;it* t*e s*ort le%islati!e
s"*e&le t*is s&mmer an im+enin% "*an%e of +resiential
aministrations ne't year6 t*e moment&m b&ilt ;it*in t*e
!eterans "omm&nity for "*an%e "o&l easily be lost9
MToay6 ;e *a!e a++eals t*at *a!e been iteratin% for 25 years6
t*at *a!e been e"ie 25 or of 1+6
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t*at +ro"ess6 Fibson sai9 MT*ats not ri%*t9 ts not ri%*t for
!eterans an its not ri%*t for ta'+ayers9 Barlier t*is
;eeG6 enate :eterans Affairs ommittee *airman Ho*nny saGson
(R-FA) sai t*at a++eals reform ;ill be
in"l&e in t*e +enin% omnib&s6 b&t ;arne it mi%*t not
be t*e "om+re*ensi!e +lan floate by :A offi"ials in
re"ent mont*s9 T*e omnib&s alreay is e'+e"te to in"l&e
s;ee+in% ne; "*an%es to *irin% an firin% r&les for :A
em+loyees6 "*an%es to t*e e+artments o&tsie "are +ro%rams6
"are%i!er +ro!isions an se!eral oEen ot*er +ie"es
of !eterans le%islation9
saGson sai *e is "ommitte to *el+in% o!er*a&l t*e
+ro"ess t*is year W eit*er t*ro&%* t*e omnib&s or in
se+arate le%islation W b&t "on"ee t*at +assin% any
"om+re*ensi!e le%islation after H&ne 1 ;ill be iffi"<6
%i!en
t*e s*ift in attention to t*e fall ele"tions9 ot* Fibson an
saGson sai one +oint of iffi"<y no; is t*e "ost of t*e
+ro+ose reforms9 T*e on%ressional &%et ffi"e is
e'+e"te to +&t a +ri"e ta% on t*e ieas in "omin% ays9
Fibson sai *e oes not e'+e"t t*e "osts of t*e "*an%es to be
o!er;*elmin%6 %i!en t*at most of t*e "*an%es eal
;it* +la"in% ti%*ter timelines on ne; "ase s&bmissions an
e"ision ealines9 &t "learin% o&t t*e "&rrent
"aseloa
;ill re>&ire more staff an reso&r"es6 ;*i"* means
more money9
T*e $*ite ?o&se *as s&++ort from !eterans
a!o"ates for t*e "*an%e6 an Fibson sai "on%ressional staffers
*a!e been %enerally s&++orti!e of t*e +lans t*&s far9
raftin% t*e ne; %&ielines *as been a s+eey +ro"ess
for
e+artment offi"ials6 ;*o "ons<e ;it* o&tsie %ro&+s
in re"ent mont*s to "reate a more "&stomer ser!i"e-"entere
+ro+osal9 No; t*e >&estion is ;*et*er t*at
s&++ort "an translate into "on%ressional a"tion9 M$ere etermine
to %ett*is one6 Fibson sai9 M$e &nerstan t*e +ro"ess is broGen9
T*e "*allen%e ;e *a!e no; is t*at o&r ;ino; is
"losin%9 [o&r"eK ilitary Times . eo *ane . A+ril 1&alify
for e+enen"y an inemnity
"om+ensation (D)9 &t &e to a e"aes-ol la; t*at bars
s&r!i!ors from re"ei!in% bot* +ayments6 t*e # is
re&"e ollar-for-ollar by t*e amo&nt of D6 Gno;n as t*e
X;io; ta'9X A tem+orary meas&re +asse by
on%ress set to e'+ire in 2017 allo;s s&r!i!ors to re"ei!e a
+artial rebate to maGe &+ for t*at loss9 AA offi"ials
sai t*ey ;ant on%ress to6 at a minim&m6 e'ten t*at
meas&re +ast ne't year so military s&r!i!ors onVt see a
+ayment re&"tion9 &t ieally6 t*ey sai6 la;maGers
;o&l mo!e to re+eal t*e offset la; entirely9 Xn an ieal
;orl ;eV +ers&ae "on%ress to fin t*e money to eliminate t*e
#3D offset6X trobri%e sai9
Also on t*e %ro&+Vs lobbyin% ay o"Get is a
re>&est t*at la;maGers reLe"t a series of Defense
De+artment
Tri"are +ro+osals t*at ;o&l *&rt retirees by in"reasin%
+ri"es9 &rrently6 retirees &sin% Tri"are #rime +ay
/2290
+er year for a sin%le +erson or /55920 for a family6 ;*ile
tanar re>&ires no enrollment fee9 T*e +ro+ose
system6 *o;e!er6 ;o&l re>&ire retirees +ay an &+
to /00 ann&al enrollment fee for families9 trobri%e sai *is
or%aniEation is looGin% for la;maGers to +&s* t*ro&%*
Tri"are reforms t*at ease a""ess to "are an referrals amon%
#a%e 1 of 1+6
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ot*er t*in%s before instit&tin% any +ri"e in"reases9 Xn t*e
*ealt*"are sie ;eV liGe to ;in on%ressV s&++ort t*at
before ;e start raisin% fees si%nifi"antly ;e s*o&l
fi' t*e +roblems t*at are o"&mente6X *e sai9 [o&r"eK
ilitary9"om . Amy &s*atE . A+r 06 201 @@]
*A Coi,,ion on C-r# Upd-t# 02 Eliin-t# All *AMC, OC,
A bl&e-ribbon +anel "reate to e!al&ate t*e :eterans
Affairs *ealt* system is ;ei%*in% a rai"al +ro+osal to
eliminate all :A mei"al "enters an o&t+atient fa"ilities in
t*e ne't 20 years an transition million !eterans to t*e
+ri!ate se"tor for *ealt* "are9 A &en"es of military
e'+os&re6 #TD6
+olytra&ma "are6 +rost*eti"s an ot*er ty+es of "are
&nri!ale by any ot*er *ealt* "are systemX an sai any reform
re"ommenations m&st not im+ee t*e X"ontra"t :A *as ;it*
!eteransX to +ro!ie state-of-t*e-art "are9 ommission
"*air;oman Nan"y "*li"*tin%6 B of t*e ?enry ,or ?ealt* ystem6
tol syni"ate "ol&mnist Tom #*il+ott t*at
s*e asGe lom to "reate t*e o"&ment9 *e sai t*at by
efinition6 XitVs to be e!al&ate6 "riti"iEe an "onsiere as
+art of o&r is"&ssion9X
Disable Ameri"an :eterans e'e"&ti!e ire"tor Farry
A&%&stine sai t*e !eterans ser!i"es or%aniEations t*at
o++ose t*e +lan sense t*at t*e "ommissioners ;*o e!elo+e t*is
+arti"&lar +ro+osal also belie!e it9 Xn t*is re%ar6
t*ere ;as a lot of is"&ssion leain% &+ to t*is
o"&ment t*at maGes &s belie!e t*e +eo+le ;*o +&t t*is
to%et*er are
#a%e 20 of 1+6
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!ery serio&s abo&t +&s*in% t*is a%ena6
A&%&stine sai &rin% an inter!ie; 1 A#R9 Ameri"an e%ion
offi"ials
>&estione t*e moti!es of t*e "ommissioners ;*ose names
are on t*e o"&ment6 notin% mei"al in&stry
e'e"&ti!es6
in a release 24 AR9 Xembers of a "on%ressionally a++ointe
ommission on are 999 are re+ortely +&s*in%
la;maGers in $as*in%ton to s&++ort lon%-term +lans to
a""elerate +ri!atiEation of :A *ealt* "are6X Ameri"an
e%ion offi"ials ;rote9 A final re+ort from t*e "ommission is
&e by H&ne9 T*e "ommission ;as "reate by t*e 2014
:eterans A""ess6 *oi"e an A""o&ntability A"t to maGe
re"ommenations on reor%aniEin% t*e :eterans ?ealt*
Aministration an eli!erin% *ealt* "are to !eterans in t*e ne't
t;o e"aes9
T*e re+ort re"ommenations e"*o some +ro+osals set fort*
by !eterans a!o"a"y %ro&+ on"erne :eterans ,or
Ameri"a in a :A *ealt* reform +lan6 X,i'in% :eterans ?ealt*
are6X intro&"e last year9 T*at +lan "alls for
"onsoliatin% :A mei"al fa"ilities &ner a non+rofit
or%aniEation "*artere by t*e %o!ernment an +ro!iin% "are
for !eterans in t*e +ri!ate se"tor t*ro&%* a
%o!ernment-s&bsiiEe *ealt* "are +ro%ram similar to t*e
,eeral
Bm+loyees ?ealt* enefit #lan9 :A :i"e #resient of e%islati!e an
#oliti"al A"tion Dan al;ell sai 1 A#R
t*at t*e stra; man o"&ment W ;*i"* *e "*ara"teriEe as an
Xin"om+lete +ro+osal esi%ne to %enerate ebateX W
is im+ortant to any is"&ssion of :?A reform9
M$e are *a++y to see t*at more +eo+le are looGin% to
e'+an *oi"e an %i!e t*e :eterans ?ealt* Aministration
t*e tools it nees to better ser!e o&r !eterans6 al;ell sai9
M&r +ro+osal maGes "lear t*at ;e o not manate
s*&ttin% o;n :A fa"ilities9X A&%&stine sai t*e stra;
man e!al&es a *ealt* system t*at ser!es t*e &ni>&e
nees of !eterans9 X$e looG for;ar to ;orGin% ;it* t*e
"ommission to "ome to "onsens&s ;it* %oo ieas t*at ;ill
*el+
resol!e t*e iss&es t*at :A *as9 $e are not tryin% to be
obstr&"tionist ;e are tryin% to ;orG ;it* t*e "ommission9
&t ;e are ea-set a%ainst %ettin% ri of t*e :A6
A&%&stine sai9 [o&r"eK ilitary Times . #atri"ia Iime .
A+ril
16 201 @@]
*A Coi,,ion on C-r# Upd-t# 0+ Str-;-n -p#r Cl-ri/i#d
embers of a bl&e-ribbon +anel st&yin% :A *ealt* "are
efene t*e %ro&+s ;orG last ;eeG6 efle"tin% "*ar%es
t*ey ;ant to s*&tter all :eterans Affairs mei"al fa"ilities
in fa!or of %o!ernment-+ai +ri!ate "are for !eterans9
ommission on are member Darin elni"G an "*air;oman Nan"y
"*li"tin% sai last ;eeG t*at a Mstra;manX
+a+er rafte by se!en "ommissioners X;as "reate to Lot o;n
initial ieas an i not re+resent a final re+ort
from t*e "on%ressionally manate %ro&+9 XT*e s"enario
+resente is one of se!eral t*at *a!e been +ro+ose9 As t*e
term stra;man im+lies6 t*e o"&ment ;as "reate by a
s&bset of "ommissioners to es"ribe t*eir +ersonal ieas 999
it
re+resents o+tions on a ran%e of +ossibilities t*e "ommissioners
are e!al&atin%6X
"*li"*tin% ;rote in a statement on t*e "ommissionVs ;ebsite
*tt+sK33"ommissionon"are9sites9&sa9%o!6 X$e are
%oin% to "ontin&e to taGe in+&t6 "ontin&e to s*a+e
[o&r !ie;s] 999 No one is %oin% to f&lly &nerstan
o&r +osition
&ntil ;e &nerstan o&r +osition6 an t*ats not %oin%
to *a++en &ntil ;e "reate t*e final re+ort9 An t*at "omes
o&t
in H&ne6 elni"G sai9 T*e
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Ar4 #t#r-n M-rtin Win#, $nd#r!o#, n-rro; %-nd $ltr-iol#t B
p8oto t8#r-p4 -t M#t8odi,t 8o,pit-l to tr#-t - ,:in
"ondition)
Frassley sai in an inter!ie; t*at *es fr&strate t*at
t*e +ro%ram %ot off to s&"* a +oor start9 ?e *as *ear from
se!eral ot*er !eterans ;*o *a!e %otten t*e r&naro&n6 an
*e *as emane im+ro!ements9 ?e still s&++orts t*e
+ro%rams %oal6 ;*i"* is to %i!e !eterans t*e ri%*t to seeG
+ri!ate "are if a "om+arable :A ser!i"e is more t*an 50
miles a;ay or ;o&l re>&ire ;aitin% more t*an
&a%mire9 Iristin &nnin%*am6 a national aministrator for t*e
:A6
sai t*e a%en"y s"ramble to follo; on%ressV orers to "reate t*e
+ro%ram in 20149 Xt ;as ena"te !ery >&i"Gly9
(T*e la;) only %a!e &s 0 ays to im+lement t*e +ro%ram6X s*e
sai9 &nnin%*am sai on%ress *as sin"e +asse
se!eral meas&res %i!in% t*e :A more fle'ibility to r&n
t*e +ro%ram6 an anot*er s&"* bill is bein% "onsiere at t*e
a+itol9 *e sai t*e e+artment is taGin% ba"G some of t*e tasGs6
in"l&in% s"*e&lin% +ri!ate-"are a++ointments6
from "ontra"tors ;*o ;ere *ire to *anle t*ose &ties in 20149
o"al :A staff members ;*o Gno; t*eir +atients
s*o&l be in a better +osition to set &+ +ri!ate
a++ointments6 s*e sai9 X&r %oal is to maGe s&re !eterans
%et t*e "are
t*eyV!e earne an eser!e9X
Da!i *&lGin6 ;*o leas t*e :A *ealt* system
nationally6 sai *e *a *ear s&%%estions t*at *is a%en"y
;ants
t*e :eterans *oi"e +ro%ram to fail9 X ;ill em+*ati"ally say
t*ere sim+ly is no tr&t* to t*at6X *e tol a %ro&+
of
*ealt* "are Lo&rnalists attenin% a "onferen"e in le!elan on
,riay9 X999 $e are absol&tely "ommitte to ;orGin%
;it* t*e +ri!ate se"tor9X *&lGin sai it maGes +erfe"t sense
to &se o&tsie +ro!iers for ser!i"es t*at arenVt :A
s+e"ialties9 ,or e'am+le6 *e sai6 t*e :A "ontra"ts ;it* +ri!ate
*os+itals to +ro!ie maternity ser!i"es for t*e
%ro;in% n&mber of female !eterans9 T*ereVs no +oint for t*e
:A to a birt*in% &nits to its *os+itals ;*en %oo
o+tions are reaily a!ailable at "omm&nity *os+itals6 *e
sai9
:A offi"ials sai t*ey "o&lnt immeiately estimate *o;
many o;a !eterans are obtainin% +ri!ate "are in lie&of :A
ser!i"es &ner t*e ne; +ro%ram9 Hennifer Bllis6 a s+oGes;oman
for 8nity#oint ?ealt*6 ;*i"* o;ns o;a
et*oist ei"al enter6 sai *er "om+any *as not seen m&"* of an
in"rease in :A-+ai !isits sin"e "reation of t*e
:eterans *oi"e +ro%ram9 er"y ei"al enter in Des oines sai it *as
re"ei!e L&st a fe; referrals &ner t*e
+ro%ram9 &t roala;ns ei"al enter6 ;*i"* is #olG
o&ntyVs +&bli" *os+ital6 *as seen a si%nifi"ant in"rease
in
:A-finan"e !isits9 T*e n&mber of s&"* +atients "limbe to
1
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t*in%s before t*ey e"ie6 *e sai9 MT*ey L&st o a Gnee-LerG
rea"tion9X [o&r"eK Des oines Re%ister . Tony eys .
A+ril 106 201 @@]
*A *#t C8oi"# ro!r- Upd-t# +> B#8ind =>>M in *#t C-r#
-4#nt,
$*en ne;s broGe in 2014 t*at t*e De+artment of :eterans Affairs
(:A) ;as "o!erin% &+ an%ero&sly lon% ;ait
times at :A "lini"s6 t*e aministration ;as >&i"Gly
b&rie in an a!alan"*e of ba +ress9 on%ress res+one by
"reatin% t*e *oi"e ar +ro%ram6 ;*i"* allo;s !eterans fa"in% lon%
;ait times to seeG "are from +ri!ate o"tors9
No; t*at +ro%ram6 too6 *as en"o&ntere a serio&s
+roblem9 T*e :A re+ortely *asnt been +ayin% t*ese o&t-of-
net;orG o"tors9 Des+ite t*e +ro%rams /10 billion b&%et6 t*e
:A is be*in on /7 million in +ayments for
emer%en"y ser!i"es renere at non-:A *os+itals t*ro&%*o&t
t*e nation6 a""orin% to testimony eli!ere to
on%ress by :in"e eist on be*alf of t*e Ameri"an ?os+ital
Asso"iation (A?A)9
T*ats %i!in% t*ese *os+itals +a&se ;*en it "omes to
;orGin% ;it* t*e :A to treat !eterans9 M$*ile ;e are !ery
ei"ate to ser!in% t*e !eterans in o&r "omm&nity6 an ;e
a""e+t ea"* an e!ery one ;*o ;alGs t*ro&%* o&r oors6
;e *a!e e"ie a%ainst "ontra"tin% ;it* t*e :A &e to slo; or
no +ayment for "laims an t*e b&rea&"ra"y in!ol!e
;it* %ettin% "laims t*ro&%* t*e +ayment +ro"ess6 eist6 t*e
"*ief e'e"&ti!e offi"er of an ArGansas *ealt*"are
system6 tol on%ress last H&ne9 ome *a!e re+orte bein%
*o&ne by bill "olle"tors6 ;*ile many ot*ers fin t*e
+ro%ram too "onf&sin% to na!i%ate9 #art of t*e +roblem
is t*e s+ee ;it* ;*i"* t*e +ro%ram ;as intro&"e6
a""orin% to t*e +ri!ate "om+anies "ontra"te by t*e :A to *anle
referrals an +ro"ess +ayments9 T*e +ro%ram
be%an on No!9 56 20146 L&st a fe; mont*s after
#resient bama si%ne t*e *oi"e A"t into la;9 M$it*in re"or
time6 ;e "reate t*e infrastr&"t&re6 *ire an traine
*&nres of staff6 an maile *oi"e ars to t*e fo&r million
!eterans in o&r area of res+onsibility6 a +&bli"
relations team from Tri;est6 t*e firm t*at aministers t*e +ro%ram
in
t*e $est an +arts of t*e o&t*6 tol ?ealt*line in an email9
M$e "ontin&e to ;orG alon%sie t*e :A to refine t*e
+ro%ram to *el+ im+ro!e &+on its ori%inal
str&"t&re as t*e +ro%ram is mat&re6 t*ey ;rote9
in"e its in"e+tion6 t*e *oi"e ar +ro%ram *as been
aL&ste in se!eral ;ays in res+onse to &ser "om+laints9
ri%inally6 !eterans ;ere eli%ible to &se t*e +ro%ram if t*ey
*a to ;ait more t*an &irement t*at !eterans mei"al re"ors
m&st be re"ei!e in orer to +ro"ess "laims9 T*e mo!e ;as meant
to
streamline +ayments6 an ;as a++la&e by Tri;est an ?ealt*
Net6 t*e ot*er *ealt* ins&ran"e "om+any "ontra"te
by t*e :A9 &t arlos ,&entes6 a +oli"y a!isor ;it*
t*e :eterans of ,orei%n $ars (:,$)6 is sGe+ti"al t*at
e"o&+lin% mei"al re"ors from +ayments is t*e ri%*t a++roa"*9
M$ere a"t&ally s&++orti!e of tyin% +ayment an
mei"al o"&mentation an ;e ont "om+letely a%ree t*at t*at ;as
;*at ;as "a&sin% t*e elay6 *e tol ?ealt*line9
#a%e 23 of 1+6
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ne of t*e benefits of t*e :A system is t*at it +ro!ies
Minte%rate "are6 *e sai6 meanin% t*at o"tors "an tra"G
a +atients mei"al *istory an +ro%ress e!en if ifferent o"tors at
ifferent +la"es sa; t*at +atient9 Iee+in% tra"G
of mei"al re"ors is an im+ortant +art of s&"* "are6 *e sai9
nee6 of t*e re"ommenations t*at eist mae to
on%ress last year6 remo!in% t*e mei"al re"ors re>&irement
;as not amon% t*em9 ?e s&%%este t*at t*e :A
"ommit to a""e+tin% or enyin% a "laim ;it*in se!en ays an +ayin%
a++ro!e "laims ;it*in
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t*em to +ass a means test to >&alify9 At
*tt+K33nationalin"omelimits9!aftl9&s "an be fo&n t*e
:As "&rrent
in"ome t*res*ols9
After t*e !eteran is enrolle6 *e3s*e ;ill be assi%ne to a
+riority %ro&+6 s"*e&le for a bloo test6 assi%ne a
+rimary "are +erson an re>&ire to atten an
orientation "lass9 :eterans are en"o&ra%e to Gee+ t*eir
+ri!ate
ins&ran"e +lans if t*ey "an affor to o so9 T*e :A ;ill bill
t*e ins&ran"e "om+anies for t*eir "are an t*e !eteran
"an "ontin&e to &se t*e ser!i"es of +ri!ate o"tors or
*os+itals if t*ey "*oose9 ?o;e!er6 in orer to stay enrolle int*e
system6 t*e !eterans m&st &se t*e :A fa"ilities at least
on"e a year9
*#t#r-n, B#n#/it, Adini,tr-tion) T*e :A is res+onsible for
t*e +ayment of all :A %rat&ito&s benefits9 t
*anles "laims for "om+ensation6 +ension6 an e&"ation6
in"l&in% !o"ational re*abilitation6 b&rials6 *ome
loans6
life ins&ran"e an L&st abo&t any ot*er monetary
benefit t*at "omes from t*e :A9 T*e :A fiel o+erations are
lo"ate in re%ional offi"es (:ARs) ;*ere all benefits "laims are
*anle9 Ba"* state *as at least one re%ional offi"e
(e'"e+t $yomin%)6 +l&s offi"es in an H&an6 $as*in%ton
D996 an anila9 Ba"* offi"e !aries %reatly in siEe
e+enin% on t*e +o+&lation ser!e9 Ba"* offi"e is %&ie by
a ire"tor9 T*e f&n"tions are t*en s+lit amon% t*e
i!isions9 T*e lar%est i!ision in ea"* offi"e is t*e :eterans
er!i"e enter9 T*is i!ision *anles all "om+ensation
an +ension "laims from re"ei+t of t*e "laim to t*e e"ision9
T*ere are t*ree #ension aintenan"e enters lo"ate at
il;a&Gee6 t9 #a&l6 an #*ilael+*ia re%ional offi"es9
B&"ation "laims are *anle in Re%ional #ro"essin% offi"es
in fo&r lo"ations9
B!ery re%ional offi"e *as t*e "a+ability of *anlin%
+&bli" "onta"t for t*eir area6 bot* for ;alG-in "lients an
tele+*one "alls9 $*en a !eteran is not satisfie ;it* t*e e"ision
mae on *is "laim6 *e *as t*e ri%*t to file an
a++eal9 A++eals are e"ie on >&estions re%arin% all
!eterans benefits by t*e oar of :eteran A++eals (:A)6
;*i"* is "om+letely ine+enent from t*e :A9 As ;it* most
b&rea&"ra"ies6 t*ere are "ontin%en"ies an
>&alifi"ations in filin% "laims for "om+ensation9 T*e
!eteran m&st *a!e a ser!i"e "onne"te isability9 As an
e'am+le6 if a :ietnam !eteran *as ty+e iabetes6 t*e :A
re"o%niEes t*at ty+e iabetes "o&l be a ire"t res<
of
bein% e'+ose to A%ent ran%e in :ietnam an t*erefore
"o&l be "om+ensate9 Ba"* "o&nty *as a traine :eteran
er!i"e ffi"er (:) to *el+ !eterans to file "laims9
B$ri-l -nd C##t#ri#,) T*e National emetery Asso"iation
o+erates t*e National emetery system9 t is
res+onsible for t*e establis*ment an "onstr&"tion of ne;
"emeteries an t*e "are an maintenan"e of e'istin%
"emeteries9 t +ro!ies fla%s for b&rials of !eterans an
iss&es t*e #resiential emorial ertifi"ates9
[o&r"eK *&r&b&s"o Ne;s niana . Ri"*ar B"Gert .
A+ril 056 201 @@]
A!#nt Or-n!# (i,#-,#, Upd-t# 0+ + Und#r R#i#; /or r#,$pti#
St-t$,
T*e :eterans Affairs De+artment is ;ei%*in% ;*et*er to a se!eral
iseases to t*e list of *ealt* "onitions
+res&me in :ietnam !eterans to be "a&se by
e'+os&re to A%ent ran%e9 A :A ;orGin% %ro&+ is st&yin%
a re+ort
iss&e in ar"* by t*e nstit&te of ei"ine to etermine
;*et*er blaer "an"er6 *y+ot*yroiism an #arGinsons-
liGe sym+toms W illnesses t*e sai may be more stron%ly linGe to
e'+os&re t*an +re!io&sly t*o&%*t W
s*o&l a&tomati"ally maGe a :ietnam !eteran eli%ible for
:A isability benefits an *ealt* "are9
A""orin% to Dr9 Ral+* Bri"Gson6 :AVs "*ief "ons<ant for
+ost-e+loyment *ealt* ser!i"es6 t*e %ro&+ ;ill maGe
a re"ommenations to :A e"retary Robert "Donal on ;*et*er t*e
iseases s*o&l be ae to a list of 15
alreay in +la"e9 M$e are in t*e mist of a eliberati!e +ro"ess6
"aref&lly looGin% at all t*e "ommittee +&t in t*e
re+ort an aitional information t*at *as "ome o&t sin"e6
Bri"Gson sai9 M$e ;ill be +&ttin% to&%*er a :A
res+onse t*at ;ill be bro&%*t before senior leaers an
<imately bro&%*t before t*e se"retary9 T*e +ro"ess
"o&l
taGe &+ to t;o years6 a :A s+oGes;oman ae9
#a%e 26 of 1+6
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Ro&%*ly 1 million :ietnam !eterans are enrolle in t*e
:A *ealt* system6 a""orin% to t*e e+artment9 ase on
a re!ie; of ata for one year6 5644 of t*ese !eterans *a!e been
ia%nose ;it* blaer "an"er6 156< s&ffer from
*y+ot*yroiism an an estimate 16&ate or ins&ffi"ient
e!ien"e s*o&l not affe"t isability
+ayments to t*e 1615< es"enants of :ietnam !eterans ;*o
re"ei!e t*em6 :eterans enefits Aministration senior
a!iser for "om+ensation ser!i"es ra ,lo*r sai9
:A re"ommens t*at !eterans ;*o *a!e an illness t*ey
belie!e is relate to A%ent ran%e e'+os&re file a "laim
t*ey are "onsiere on a "ase-by-"ase basis if t*e illness is not
on t*e +res&m+ti!e "onition list9 *o&l ne;
iseases be ae to t*e list6 t*e re%&lation ;o&l %o into
effe"t
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on Han&ary 16 200 ;*en *e ;as str&"G by a mortar9 ?is
inL&ries in"l&e t*e loss of bot* eyes6 inL&ry to
t*e
frontal an tem+oral lobes of *is brain6 loss of +art of *is La;
an teet*6 a ba"G inL&ry6 a *erniate "alf m&s"le t*at
;ont *eal an loss of a Gnee"a+ so t*at one Gnee is bone on bone9
?e ;as not e'+e"te to s&r!i!e ;*en *e arri!e
at t*e military *os+ital in anst&*l6 Fermany9 &t
s&r!i!e *e i9 !er t*e "o&rse of forty s&r%eries *is La;
an
eye so"Gets ;ere re"onstr&"te b&t *is !ision ;as lost
fore!er9 Toay *es a fine-looGin% man9 n %oo s*a+e6 fit6
*is ser!i"e o% by *is sie9 o& ;o&lnt Gno; looGin% at *im
t*at *es been rate6 in aition to *is blinness6
70U isability from #TD an 100U isability from T9
Hesse A"osta ret&rne to *is em+loyer after ra>6
b&t *e nees some assistan"e to o *is Lob9 iGe;ise6 at *ome
*e nees some *el+9 T*ats ;*at t*e "are%i!er +ro!iesK *el+
%ettin% to mei"al a++ointments6 mana%in% mei"ation
refills6 *el+ ;it* +a+er;orG an s*o++in%9 T*e aily t*in%s t*at
si%*te +eo+le taGe for %rante9 ?is ser!i"e o%
*el+s bot* ;it* mobility an ;it* #TD9 &t t*e "are%i!er fills
an essential nee9 $*et*er or not t*e :A a%rees9
$*en National :eterans ,o&nation re+resentati!es *a es*a
s+oGe ;it* Hesse6 *e ;as tol6 M$*en t*e :A
re+resentati!e "alle to tell &s t*e "are%i!er benefit *a
been "an"ele6 ;e ;ere tol !erbally t*at Y t8# *A do#, not
"on,id#r %lindn#,, - di,-%ilit49 o& "an &nerstan *o; t*e
:A mi%*t looG at *im999*es em+loye6 *e *as a
ser!i"e o%999an t*inG *is blinness oes not "om+letely isable
*im9 &t *o; *&mane is it not to taGe into
"onsieration t*e effe"ts of #TD an TQ T*e :A *as treate *im for
bot* an t*ey *a!e "om+lete re"ors9 ?e
"an a++eal *is "ase6 of "o&rse9 ase on a 2012 :A re+ort t*at
;ill taGe abo&t t;o an a *alf years9 T*e eli%ibility
"riteria from t*e are%i!ers an :eterans mnib&s ?ealt*
er!i"es A"t6 #&bli" a; 111-1< e"tion 1720F (a) (2)
statesK
M(2) ,or +&r+oses of t*is s&bse"tion6 an eli%ible
!eteran is any ini!i&al ;*oW
(A) is a !eteran or member of t*e Arme ,or"es
&ner%oin% mei"al is"*ar%e from t*e Arme ,or"es
() *as a serio&s inL&ry (in"l&in%
tra&mati" brain inL&ry6 +sy"*olo%i"al tra&ma6 or ot*er
mental isorer)
in"&rre or a%%ra!ate in t*e line of &ty in t*e a"ti!e
military6 na!al6 or air ser!i"e on or after e+tember 116 2001
an
) is in nee of +ersonal "are ser!i"es be"a&se
ofW
(i) an inability to +erform one or more a"ti!ities of
aily li!in%
(ii) a nee for s&+er!ision or +rote"tion base on
sym+toms or resi&als of ne&rolo%i"al or ot*er
im+airment or inL&ry999
T*e are%i!ers an :eterans mnib&s ?ealt* er!i"es A"t6
;as intene6 amon% ot*er t*in%s6 to assist members
of !eterans families ;*o *a!e left "areers to "are for !eterans
;it* "atastro+*i" isabilities9 ?o;e!er6 t*e
De+artment of :eterans Affairs (:A) is failin% to im+lement t*e
la; (#&bli" a; 111-1
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ase on *is e'+erien"e6 Hesse says6 M *a!e ne!er been :A
frienly6 an be"a&se >&estion an "*allen%e t*e :A
+ro"ess6 tr&ly belie!e *a!e been tar%ete in *a!in%
t*is benefit "an"ele9 ?e ;as also >&i"G to say *es not
t*e
only one re"ei!in% t*is Gin of treatment by t*e :A6 an *e
la&n"*e into a story abo&t anot*er !et in t*e A area
;*ose :A "are "ame from si' ifferent :A fa"ilities (i9e9 on%
ea"*6 $est os An%eles6 an Die%o6 oma ina6
Bast os An%eles an o;nto;n A)9 T*is is o&t*ern alifornia9
T*ats miles an miles of ri!in%6 not to
mention *o&rs of "ar time be"a&se of traffi"6 an t*en
t*e e'+ense on to+ of t*at9 ts no ;oner t*at so many !ets
s&fferin% from #TD an T also *a!e an%er mana%ement +roblems9
es*a "ant *el+ b&t t*inG t*e r&n-aro&n
treatment6 some of it looGin% liGe *arassment6 t*at t*ese !ets
e'+erien"e from t*e :A is a fa"tor in t*e 22 !eteran
s&i"ies a ay9
er%eant aLor A"osta ser!e ;it* istin"tion in t*e 899 Army from
175 &ntil 20109 Amon% *is many a;ars
are T*e e%ion of erit6 T*e ronEe tar6 T*e #&r+le ?eart6 t*e
eritorio&s er!i"e eal an si' Army
ommenation eals9 T*e :As b&%et for fis"al year 201 is /1<
billion9 T*e +ro+ose 2017 b&%et in"l&es an
in"rease for :A f&nin%9 aybe money isnt t*e +roblem9 aybe
its t*e str&"t&re of t*e :A6 *o; lar%e an
&n;iely it is9 aybe its t*e entren"*e "<&re of no
a""o&ntability9 es*a %rants t*at "*an%es are bein% mae9
&t *o; o yo& e'+lain to t*e Hesse A"ostas ;*o ser!e t*is
"o&ntry t*at its L&st too m&"* tro&ble to taGe
t*eir
"ases ini!i&allyQ T*at in orer to %et t*ro&%* t*e
n&mber of "ases6 t*eres more in!estment in blo"Gin%
treatment
t*an in a&t*oriEin% itQ e"a&se t*ats *o; it looGs9 T*e
National :eterans ,o&nation +ersonnel ;is* t*at A"ostas
"ase ;as o&t of t*e orinary9 8nfort&nately6 its not9 f
yo& Gno; a !et ;*o nees *el+6 t*eir ifeine for :ets is
97779444
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:As :eterans emetery Frants #ro%ram "om+lements :As 1
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*A L-;,$it < Gil- Ri#r Indi-n, Wit88oldin! -4#nt,
T*e Fila Ri!er nian omm&nity is s&in% t*e De+artment of
:eterans Affairs6 a""&sin% t*e a%en"y of ;it**olin%
+ayments for !eteran "are9 T*e lar%est minority !eteran
%ro&+ in t*e :alley6 t*e omm&nity is emanin% t*e :A
reimb&rse nian tribes for tens of t*o&sans of ollars in
"are t*ey *onorably eser!e9 XT*e :A L&st totally
isre%ars &s6X Da!i Anerson6 a !eteran of t*e 899 Army +e"ial
,or"es6 sai9 ?e sai *is brot*er Fary6 also a
!eteran6 re>&ire more t*an /1006000 ;ort* of
s&r%eries an s+e"ialty "are for ser!i"e-relate inL&ries9
A""orin% to
Anerson6 t*e De+artment of :eterans Affairs *as ref&se to
+ay any of it9 XAny s+e"ialty "are t*e :A is is+&tin%
t*at an oes not ;ant to fi%*t t*at t*ey ;ant &s to si%n a;ay
o&r ri%*ts to sen +eo+le to s+e"ialty "are an sen
t*em ba"G into t*e :A6X *e sai9
Anerson ar%&es t*e s&r%eries an s+e"ialty "are *is
brot*er re"ei!e at ?& ?& Iam emorial ?os+ital in t*e
small reser!ation to;n of a"aton s*o&l be "o!ere liGe an
o&tsie "lini"9 &t itVs not9 XtVs "on!enient itVs *ere
;it*in t*e "omm&nity itVs ;ell-staffe6 an ;e %et treatment6X
*e sai9 tVs treatment *e ar%&es ;o&l taGe too lon%
to ;ait for at t*e #*oeni' :A9 XT*ey ;ant &s to brin% t*at
!eteran ba"G to an o!er"ro;e system t*at ;o&l taGe
any;*ere from ei%*t mont*s to a year to start t*eir treatment6X
Anerson sai9
R#l#-,# /ro Gil- Ri#r Indi-n Co$nit4XThe ila 2iver 'ndian
3ommunit) claims in court that the !epartment of 4eterans (ffairs
is illegall) limiting and
conditioning reimbursement for care provided to veterans who go
to a reservation hospital rather than the scandal5
plagued 4( facilit) in "hoeni6. 'n a complaint filed in
federal court on Tuesda) the ila 2iver 'ndian 3ommunit)
and ila 2iver 7ealth 3are 3orporation claim the department owes
them for health care provided to veterans
going back to &arch 8919. ,nder "resident :arack
#bama;s health care law the 4( must reimburse 'ndian tribes
for health care services to veterans who seek care from
tribal clinics or hospitals instead of a 4( facilit).
and tribal organi=ations agree to conditions well be)ond the
plain language of the law and which reduce the
reimbursements that 'ndian tribes are entitled to under the
law< the complaint sa)s. e6cluding reimbursement for
non5Native veterans such as non5Native spouses of tribal
members> and requiring the ila 2iver
7ealth 3are 3orporation to &ality of "are an lon%
;aits for a++ointments6X t*e la;s&it states9
Fila Ri!er offi"ials say t*ey *a!e trie for years to ne%otiate
;it* t*e :A o!er t*ese iss&es6 e!en senin% a
ele%ation to meet ;it* e+artment offi"ials in $as*in%ton6
D99
n 201&ire to "*an%e
by t*e De+artment of H&sti"e or &nless t*e
omm&nity s&e t*e feeral %o!ernment an +re!aile in
"o&rt6X t*e
la;s&it states9 XAll omm&nity efforts *a!e been reLe"te6
an from ar"* 2&est for "omment9 [o&r"eK a"aton6 AO
(I#?3IT:I) . As*lei%* arr . A+r 126 201 @@]
#a%e +1 of 1+6
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*A HBC Upd-t# 01 S#ri"in! H#-lt8 C-r# N##d, in *#t, Ho#,
?ome ase #rimary are (?#) is a :A *ealt* "are +ro%ram +ro!ie to
:eterans in t*eir *ome for t*ose ;*o
*a!e "om+le' *ealt* "are nees for ;*i"* ro&tine "lini"-base
"are is not effe"ti!e9 t is one of :As +ro%rams t*at
ens&re t*e ri%*t "are6 at t*e ri%*t time6 in t*e ri%*t
settin% is a!ailable to !eterans all o!er t*e nation9 It
offers lon%-
term +atients t*is Gin of "are an alternati!e to n&rsin%
*ome +la"ement minimiEes t*e amo&nt of follo; &+ in an
Amb&latory are lini" +re!ents +remat&re amissions to
lon%-term "are instit&tions maintains o+timal +*ysi"al6
"o%niti!e6 an +sy"*oso"ial f&n"tionin% an allo;s t*e +atient
t*e o+tion of yin% at *ome rat*er t*an in an
instit&tion9
T*e ?# team at t*e D&r*am :A in Nort* arolina is
"om+rise of +*ysi"ian6 +*ysi"ian assistant3n&rse
+ra"titioner6 so"ial ;orGer6 o""&+ational3+*ysi"al
t*era+y team6 +*arma"ist6 ietitian6 +sy"*olo%ist an a""ess to
"*a+lain ser!i"es9 ""&+ational T*era+y ont* (A+ril) +ro!ies
an o++ort&nity to learn more abo&t t*is im+ortant
+rofession t*at *el+s :eterans a"ross t*e lifes+an o t*e
t*in%s t*ey ;ant to o an li!e life to its f&llest9
""&+ational t*era+ists fo"&s on Moin%6 &sin%
o""&+ations an meanin%f&l life a"ti!ities to *el+
ini!i&als
ma'imiEe t*eir +otential9
Toay6 "om+re*ensi!e +rimary "are re>&ires a
"oorinate team-base a++roa"* t*at +romotes s*are e"ision-
maGin%6 s&staine relations*i+s ;it* +atients an families6 an
>&ality im+ro!ement a"ti!ities9 n "ontrast to ser!i"es
reimb&rse by ot*er f&nin% me"*anisms s&"* as ei"are6
?# +ro!ies "om+re*ensi!e "are of t*e +atient often
for t*e remainer of t*eir life9 t tar%ets frail6 "*roni"ally ill
:eterans ;*o re>&ire interis"i+linary *ealt* "are teams6
"ontin&ity6 "oorination of "are6 an t*e inte%ration of
i!erse ser!i"es to "o!er t*eir "om+le' mei"al6 so"ial6
re*abilitati!e6 an be*a!ioral "are nees9 To mana%e t*e "om+le'
*ealt* +roblems of "*roni"ally or terminally ill
+atients6 ?# is +ro!ie ire"tly by an interis"i+linary
team9 T*is team +romotes "ollaboration an "oorination
amon% all team members9 T*e team members ;orG intere+enently in
assessin%6 +lannin%6 +roblem sol!in%6 an
e"ision-maGin% to meet t*e "om+le' nees of :eterans9
OT (-id B#nt8-ll Jl#/tK i,it, ;it8 *#t#r-n pro$dl4 d#on,tr-tin!
;ood;or:in! pro"t) B#nt8-ll -,,i,t#d ;it8 prop#rli!8tin! -nd
-d-pti# i,$-l -id, n##d#d /or t8# pro"t) OT 7i M-t8$#, Jri!8tK
"oordin-t#d - Ho# (#pot Gr-nt
pro"t to ipro# -""#,,i%ilit4 in t8# 8o# o/ t8i, *#t#r-n ;8o 8-d
%##n liit#d to liin! in 8i, %-,##nt d$# to
#niron#nt-l %-rri#r, %$t no; "-n #n&o4 8i, $p,t-ir, p-tio
;it8 door ;id#nin! -nd r-p in,t-ll-tion)
T*e &se of ""&+ational T*era+y ;it*in t*e ?# at
t*e D&r*am :A is a non-traitional a++roa"* for t*e
&se of T ser!i"es ;it* a +roa"ti!e fo"&s on +re!ention6
e&"ation an ;ellness9 T*is "ontrasts from traitional
*ome t*era+y ser!i"es ;*i"* *a!e a s*ort-term6 re*abilitati!e or
restorati!e fo"&s9 ""&+ational T*era+ists
"ontrib&te to t*e team by +erformin% t*e initial an on%oin%
assessments of t*e :eteranVs f&n"tional stat&s in t*e
#a%e +2 of 1+6
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*ome en!ironment9 T*is allo;s t*em to monitor an s&++ort
"lients as t*ey %o t*ro&%* t*e nat&ral a%in% +ro"ess an
into t*e en-of-life9
""&+ational T*era+ists also e!al&ate t*e :eterans *ome
for safety an str&"t&ral moifi"ations neee to maGe t*e
*ome en!ironment safe an a""essible6 in"l&in% aa+ti!e
e>&i+ment nees9 ""&+ational T*era+ists ma'imiEe
f&n"tion an safety in t*e *ome en!ironment s&++ortin%
:eterans %oal to remain in t*eir *ome &rin% t*e a%in%
+ro"ess9
t*er im+ortant inter!entions in"l&e *el+in% ;it*
lifestyle moifi"ation to minimiEe t*e im+a"ts of "*roni"
"onitions s&"* as "*roni" obstr&"ti!e +&lmonary
isease6 iabetes an ementia9 T*ey also fo"&s on safety an
falls
+re!ention ;it*in t*e *ome en!ironment9 T*ere are
n&mero&s ot*er &nseen tasGs in!ol!in% a lot of
im+ortant etails
s&"* as e&"atin% t*e :eteran an t*eir families abo&t
a""ess to :A or "omm&nity reso&r"es in"l&in% %rants
to
assist ;it* moifyin% t*eir *ome an a&tomobile for
a""essibility6 *ome re+air reso&r"es an "omm&nity
trans+ortation o+tions9 As t*e lar%est *ealt* "are system in t*e
nation6 :A is t*e sin%le lar%est em+loyer of
o""&+ational t*era+ists6 ;*ose +rimary %oal is to *el+
:eterans o+timiEe t*eir f&n"tional +erforman"e in areas
t*at
are meanin%f&l to t*eir li!es9 [o&r"eK :eterans ?ealt* .
?ans #etersen . A+ril 56 201 @@]
*A Cl-i, ro"#,,in! Upd-t# 15 13@000 Fid$"i-r4 Error,
(i,"o#r#d
T*e :eterans Affairs De+artment *as is"o!ere "laims +ro"essin%
errors affe"tin% abo&t 146000 !eterans an
s&r!i!ors W a +roblem t*at %oes ba"G as least 15 years9 T*e
errors o""&rre ;*en !eterans an s&r!i!ors file
"laims b&t6 be"a&se of isability or a%e6 ;ere eeme
&nable to mana%e t*eir benefits ;it*o&t assistan"e6 :A
offi"ials sai9 T*e :A t*en faile to a++oint a re+resentati!e for
t*e !eteran6 a family member in most "ases9 T*e
e+artment be"ame a;are of t*e iss&e ;*en it re"ei!e
in>&iries in H&ne an H&ly from affe"te benefi"iaries
or t*eir
families6 sai :A s+oGes;oman ea%an ?e&+9
n a 14 AR statement6 :A offi"ials sai t*ey "a&%*t t*e
error &sin% an information te"*nolo%y system "alle t*e
enefi"iary ,i&"iary ,iel ystem t*at ;as first e+loye in
20149 8ntil t*en6 t*ey &se an Manti>&ate6 stan-
alone atabase t*at i not intera"t ;it* any ot*er :A +ro%rams an
allo;e for only minimal ;orGloa
mana%ement ;it* !irt&ally no o!ersi%*t9 efore t*en6 re%ional
offi"ers ;ere relyin% on Mman&al +ro"esses6
in"l&in% email "orres+onen"e6 to transfer "ases to its
fi&"iary staff6 ?e&+ sai9 T*e :A *as sin"e moifie its
system to eliminate t*e man&al elements an Mbetter tra"G
t*is ;orGloa9 A re!ie; of affe"te !eterans "ases by
t*e :eterans enefits Aministration ;as "om+lete in No!ember9 t
is ;orGin% to etermine *o; m&"* is &e to
benefi"iaries9 M$e sin"erely a+olo%iEe to t*ese !eterans
an t*eir s&r!i!ors for t*is re%rettable elay6 :A De+&ty
e"retary loan Fibson sai in t*e statement9
ts &n"lear *o; lon% t*e +roblem *as been %oin% on6
?e&+ sai6 be"a&se t*e :A is not able to "olle"t ata
+rior
to 20009 Aitionally6 t*e :A *as yet to "on&"t a re!ie; to
ientify benefi"iaries ;*o ie ;aitin% for t*eir "ases to
be +ro"esse9 :A offi"ials sai t*ey *a!e set &+ a team
ei"ate to re!ie;in% t*e "ases immeiately6 ;it* a +lan to
"om+lete t*e "laims +ro"essin% ste+s an a++oint an a++ro+riate
re+resentati!e as soon as +ossible9 ?o;e!er6 t*e
+ro"ess "o&l taGe as lon% as si' mont*s to "om+lete
be"a&se t*e la; re>&ires t*e :A to meet ;it*
fi&"iary
re+resentati!es fa"e-to-fa"e an "*e"G t*eir
>&alifi"ations6 offi"ials sai9 n t*e meantime6 benefi"iaries
;ill re"ei!e
t*eir mont*ly benefits9
T*e e!elo+ment "omes on t*e *eels of a Loint st&y
bet;een ?ar!ar 8ni!ersity an !eterans a!o"a"y %ro&+s
t*at re+orte t*e :A *a ;ron%f&lly enie ser!i"es to
a++ro'imately 1256000 +ost-311 !eterans ;*o re"ei!e
ot*er t*an *onorable is"*ar%es9 A fe; ;eeGs +rior to t*at6
members of on%ress +ro+ose a bill to ret&rn
a++ro'imately /7 million erroneo&sly e&"te from
"ombat-;o&ne !eterans se!eran"e +ay for 25 years by t*e
#enta%on6 an error t*at may *a!e affe"te &+;ars of 1
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GI Bill Upd-t# 202 Stip#nd /or Wor: *i"# S"8ool
,or t*ose lea!in% t*e ser!i"e ;*o ;ant to %o to ;orG instea of
s"*ool6 t*e F ill "an *el+ +ay t*e bills for a
trainin% +osition as an a++renti"e or on-t*e-Lob learner6
t*ro&%* a &nion or trainin% for "ertifi"ation9 At t*e
:A
;ebsite
*tt+K33;;;9benefits9!a9%o!3F3reso&r"es3benefitsreso&r"es3rates3"*&irement
for em+loyers9 T*e :A e'+e"ts a Mreasonable "ertainty t*e Lob
yo&!e traine for ;ill be a!ailable after
yo&r trainin%9
49 Findin! - pro!r-) To &se t*e on-t*e-Lob sti+en6
yo&ll nee to fin an em+loyer ;it* an a++ro!e
a++renti"es*i+ or on-t*e-Lob trainin% +ro%ram9 :A Gee+s a list
of >&alifie em+loyers9 Bm+loyers "an be +ri!ate
"om+anies or %o!ernment a%en"ies9 T*ey m&st iss&e a Lob
"ertifi"ation or Lo&rneyman stat&s at t*e en of
trainin%9
T*e tate A++ro!in% A%en"ies a++ro!e +ro%rams in t*eir states9
n-t*e-Lob trainin% "an be fo&n in a ran%e of
in&stries an +rofessionsK firefi%*tin%6 +l&mbin%6 *otel
mana%ement6 to name a fe;9
#a%e +3 of 1+6
http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080115.asphttp://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080115.asphttp://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080115.asp
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59 r#p-r# /or 8#-4 li/tin!) $*ile a++renti"es*i+
re>&irements !ary6 most &nions e'+e"t a trainee to
+&t in 26000
*o&rs for e!ery "alenar year of t*eir a++renti"es*i+6 alon%
;it* 100 to 200 *o&rs of "lassroom trainin% ea"* year6
a""orin% to t*e A,-9 n aition6 t*ere are ;ritten an +ra"ti"al
*ans-on e'ams9
9 l-n to -:# t8# on#4 l-,t) T*e a!era%e startin% ;a%e for
an a++renti"e is a++ro'imately /15 +er *o&r6
a""orin% to t*e De+artment of abor6 an t*e F ill +ays only on"e
a mont*6 after :A re"ei!es "ertifi"ation of
*o&rs ;orGe from yo&r em+loyer or &nion6 so
yo&ll *a!e to b&%et t*o&%*tf&lly9 T*e &+ sieK
T*e a!era%e ;a%efor a f&lly +rofi"ient ;orGer ;*o "om+lete an
a++renti"es*i+ is ro&%*ly /506000 a year9
79 C#rt-in r#,tri"tion, -ppl4) As t*e sayin% %oes9 To "laim t*e
sti+en6 yo&ll nee to ;orG f&ll time in an
entry-le!el Lob9 o& m&st be ne; to t*e Lob an ne; to t*e
fiel6 a tr&e be%inner6 an t*e +osition m&st re>&ire
at
least si' mont*s of trainin%9 o&r ;orG m&st be
s&+er!ise at least *alf t*e time6 an yo&r em+loyer *as to
o"&ment
;*at yo& o9 n"e all t*ese +ie"es are in +la"e6 yo&re
reay to start ;orGin% to;ar a ne; "areer6 ;it* *el+ from
yo&r military benefits9
[o&r"eK ilitary Times . Aam tone . ar"* 26 201 @@]
R#,#r# (rill -4 Upd-t# 01 *A B#n#/it Ip-"t < -4 B-":
Option
At t*e &r%in% of en9 Ron $yen (D-R) t*e De+artment of
:eterans Affairs *as moifie a +oli"y t*at *a been
"a&sin% a finan"ial *ars*i+ for many reser!e-"om+onent
members ;*o re"ei!e bot* :A benefits an rill +ay9
e"a&se t*ey are not +ermitte to re"ei!e t*e :A benefits an
rill +ay for t*e same ays6 reser!e-"om+onent
members *a!e to ret&rn t*e money re"ei!e for one of t*em9
?o;e!er6 be"a&se t*e :A *as been slo; +ro"essin% t*e
+a+er;orG6 t*e re+ayment *as often b&ilt &+ o!er
m<i+le years maGin% it a str&%%le to maGe t*e re+ayment6
;*i"*
is one in t*e form of e&"tions from benefit "*e"Gs9
n res+onse to a letter $yen ;rote to :A e"retary Robert A9
"Donal6 a :A offi"ial sai t*e e+artment ;ill
offer ser!i"e members se!eral o+tions in *o; t*ey re+ay t*e
money t*ey re"ei!e9 +tions in"l&e +ayin% t*e ebt
in f&ll at one time or s&bmittin% a s&itable +ayment
+lan9 n $yenVs letter6 *e sai *&nres of National F&arsmenan
Reser!ists in re%on *a!e tol *im abo&t t*e *ars*i+ of +ayin%
se!eral years of o!er+ayment t*ro&%*
e&"tions in :A benefits9 ne tol of losin% *is entire :A
benefit for a year to maGe se!eral years of re+ayments9
None of t*em are &n;illin% to +ay ;*at t*ey o;e6 $yen
;rote6 b&t sim+ly asGe for a better system of re+ayment9
n a AR letter from t*e :AVs a"tin% &ner se"retary for
benefits6 $yen ;as tol of t*e ne; +oli"y9 ?e sai in a
+ress release anno&n"in% t*e +lan6 XT*is "ommonsense
sol&tion means t*at Ameri"ans e+enin% on :A
"om+ensation or rill +ay "an re+la"e t*e fear of bein% ;allo+e
by a s&en "r&s*in% ebt ;it* t*e "ertainty t*at
t*ey ;ill *a!e a reasonable re+ayment s"*e&le9X [o&r"eK
NFA8 $as*in%ton Re+ort . ar"* 26 201 @@]
*A A!#nt Or-n!# Cl-i, Upd-t# 06 In-d#D$-t# Contr-"tor
S"r##nin!T*e ?o&se ommittee on :eterans Affairs is looGin% into
;*et*er a "ontra"tor t*oro&%*ly re!ie;e t*e files of
:ietnam !eterans ;*o mi%*t eser!e benefits for illnesses linGe
to e'+os&re to A%ent ran%e9 A "ontra"tor t*at
+re-s"reens !eteran files for e!ien"e of t*ose illnesses
often s+ent L&st min&tes re!ie;in% ea"* file6 internal
"om+any o"&ments s*o;9 T*e "ontra"tor6 T ei"al er!i"es6
re!ie;e files for 106000 !eterans9 T*ey ;ere
+ai a++ro'imately /
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to t*oro&%*ly re!ie; t*e file9 MT*is la;s&it raises a
n&mber of serio&s >&estions6 sai Re+9 Heff iller
(R-,)6 t*e
"*airman of t*e ?o&se ommittee on :eterans Affairs6 in a
statement to "lat"*y9 MB!ery !eterans :A "laim
eser!es a t*oro&%* an obLe"ti!e re!ie;9 &r in!esti%ation
;ill "ontin&e &ntil ;e are satisfie t*ats t*e "ase in
t*is
sit&ation9 T ei"al er!i"es an o"G*ee artin6 "itin% on%oin%
liti%ation6 e"line to "omment9
A%ent ran%e benefits are a mo!in% tar%et for t*e
De+artment of :eterans Affairs9 An on%oin% "lass-a"tion
la;s&it W Ne*mer !9 De+artment of :eterans Affairs W
re>&ires t*e :A to re!ie; ol !eteran "laims ;*en
ne;illnesses are linGe to A%ent ran%e e'+os&re9 T*at %i!es
!eterans ;*o ;ere +re!io&sly enie benefits an &+ate
re!ie;9 T re!ie;e 56000 files for is"*emi" *eart isease6
#arGinsons isease an *airy "ell le&Gemia
+otentially linGe to *erbi"ie e'+os&re in :ietnam6 as
;ell as 56000 files for +eri+*eral ne&ro+at*y9 nly t*e
files
fla%%e by T as +otentially eli%ible ;ere sent ba"G to t*e :A for
a final e"ision9 T*e National :eterans e%al
er!i"es #ro%ram (N:#)6 ;*o file t*e "lass-a"tion s&it6 tol
"lat"*y t*at sin"e 20106 t*ey!e ientifie more
t*an 1600 "ases in ;*i"* t*e :A faile to re"o%niEe an +ay t*e
re>&ire retroa"ti!e A%ent ran%e "om+ensation6
res<in% in an aitional /42 million bein% +ai to !eterans
an t*eir s&r!i!ors9
arton ti"*man6 N:#s Loint e'e"&ti!e ire"tor6 sai t*ey
are +ayin% "lose attention to t*e alle%ations a%ainst
T to see if +re-s"reenin% is ;*ere !eterans are fallin%
t*ro&%* t*e "ra"Gs9 Mf t*e "ontra"t or T i not ens&re a
+ro"ess t*at ;as "om+liant ;it* t*e Ne*mer o&rt rers6
t*en t*e "ases t*at ;ere not fla%%e by T ;o&l *a!e
to be re!ie;e a%ain9 ti"*man sai9 T*e la;s&it a%ainst T6
bro&%*t by former "laims file analyst Da!i :atan6;as ismisse on
%ro&ns t*at :atan i not Gno; t*e terms of t*e "ontra"t6 so
;*ate!er e!ien"e *e +resente
abo&t *o; T +erforme t*e re!ie;s6 *e "o&l not +ro!e t*e
"om+any misre+resente its ;orG9 :atan an *is
attorneys *a!e a++eale9 "lat"*y obtaine t*e f&ll
"ontra"t
(*tt+sK33;;;9o"&ment"lo&9or%3o"&ments327757&est9
Ts "ontra"t sti+&lates t*e "om+any m&st train its
em+loyees before t*ey re!ie; files for A%ent ran%e-
relate "onitions base on a %&ie +ro!ie by t*e :A9 :atans
la;s&it alle%es *e an ot*er analysts ;ere not
formally traine an ;ere ne!er %i!en t*e :As trainin% %&ie9
nstea6 analysts ;ere %i!en a Mreferen"e man&al
from T t*at omits m&"* of t*e ba"G%ro&n information on
rele!ant mei"al "onitions in"l&e in t*e :As
%&ie6 as ;ell as etails abo&t ;*at s&++ortin%
e!ien"e for benefit eli%ibility mi%*t looG liGe in a !eterans file9
T*e
"ontra"t also states t*at T m&st re!ie; ea"* !eterans entire
file9 &t Ts referen"e %&ie +ermits analysts toabbre!iate
t*e +ro"ess6 &sin% s&mmaries of +rior benefit e"isions
+rinte on "olore s*eets of +a+er9
Ts senior !i"e +resient of o+erations6 Dr9 ar%ie *a*ani6
testifie to on%ress in 200 t*at it ;o&l taGe a
>&alifie analyst 0 to 0 min&tes to re!ie; ea"* "laim
file6 an e>&i!alent of se!en or ei%*t files +er ay9
nternal
o"&ments s*o; Ts analysts ;orGe m&"* faster &ner a
"om+etiti!e +erforman"e ratin% system9 ome analysts
a!era%e nearly
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*A S#ri"#, Upd-t# 01 S B-d Id#-, to Ipro# T8# < (A*
+erationK ##p t8# roi,# (IT#) is a yearlon% effort to
mobiliEe DA: an s&++orters be*in t*eir le%islati!e
a%ena9 n 2016 DA: ;ill fo"&s on !eterans *ealt* "are reform9
Fi!en t*e "&rrent +oli"y ebates abo&t !eterans
*ealt* "are6 an +ro+osals bein% +&t for;ar6 ;e belie!e t*is
is a efinin% moment for Ameri"as !eterans9 any of
t*e ieas for reform *a!e not been "learly efine by t*e +eo+le an
or%aniEations es+o&sin% t*em6 so DA: *as
+erforme t*eir o;n analysis of t*e im+a"t on !eterans9
T*ey en"o&ra%e +eo+le to taGe a ee+er looG at t*e
"&rrent
+ro+osals an asG t*o&%*tf&l >&estions
abo&t *o; some reform ieas ;o&l affe"t !eterans ;*o "*oose
an rely on
:A for t*eir "are9 T*ey belie!e t*at many of t*ese +ro+osals are
not %oo for !eterans9 MT*e real sol&tion for
!eterans *ealt* "are is to seamlessly inte%rate "omm&nity
"are into an im+ro!e :A system to form lo"al net;orGs
t*at ens&re !eterans %et t*e best *ealt* "are6 ;*en an ;*ere
t*ey nee it9 ,ollo;in% is ;*at DA: *as to say abo&t
;*at t*ey feel are fi!e ba ieas for :etsK
19 B-d id#- /or #t#r-n,\ Re&"in% :A to L&st M"enters of
e'"ellen"e ;ill s*rinG t*e n&mber of :A mei"al
"enters an "lini"s6 +&ttin% t*em fart*er a+art an +rimarily
in &rban areas9 ?&nres of t*o&sans of isable
!eterans ;o&l be for"e to tra!el fart*er or ;ait lon%er to
a""ess "are9 A better sol&tion\ B'+an a""ess an
im+ro!e timeliness by "reatin% a nation;ie system of &r%ent
"are for !eterans an e'+anin% telemei"ine an
;eb-base *ealt* ser!i"es9 isten toK
*tt+sK33s&++ort9%oo%le9"om3yo&t&be3Q+=re+ort+layba"G
29 A %-d id#- /or #t#r-n,\ ?a!in% t*e :A only treat "ombat or
ser!i"e-relate inL&ries to re&"e t*e eman for
"are is "om+letely "ontrary to best +ra"ti"es in mei"ine P
treatin% t*e ;*ole +atient9 t ;ill fra"t&re "are bet;een
:A an +ri!ate +ro!iers6 leain% to less "oorinate an lo;er
>&ality "are9 A better sol&tion\ Bns&re t*at :A
reso&r"es are +ro+erly ali%ne ;it* eman for ne"essary mei"al
ser!i"es6 an are a!ailable ;*en an ;*ere
!eterans nee t*em9 isten
toK *tt+sK33;;;9yo&t&be9"om3;at"*Q!=0EALb,B;"
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fast-risin% "ost is attrib&te to a "&ttin%-e%e b&t
e'+ensi!e mei"ation t*e a%en"y be%an is+ensin% last year to
!eterans in :ir%inia6 arylan6 D99 an $est :ir%inia9 T*e ne;
*e+atitis r&%s6 ;*i"* are Gno;n as So-ldi an
H-roni6 are *i%*ly effe"ti!e an less liGely to "a&se sie
effe"ts in +atients6 o"tors an %o!ernment offi"ials sai9
<i+le re+orts estimate a f&ll treatment of t*e
mei"ation "osts tens of t*o&sans of ollars +er +atient9
Ba"*
ini!i&al +ill "osts an estimate /160006 a""orin% to a re+ort
from a 899 enate +anel9
A%en"y re"ors obtaine by t*e -Team from re%ional
aministrators of t*e 899 De+artment of :eterans Affairss*o; 701
+atients re"ei!e t*e treatment at t*e $as*in%ton D :A ei"al enter
in 20159 T*ose re"ors s*o;
more t*an 200 +atients ;ere aministere t*e mei"ations at t*e
artinsb&r% :A ei"al enter an more t*an 40
+atients at arylans :A mei"al system last year9 n all6 t*e
"ost of treatment e'"eee /4 million6 ;*i"* is a
/50 million in"rease from t*e "ost of ?e+atitis treatment in
20149 All "osts are "o!ere by t*e 899 De+artment of
:eterans Affairs an feeral ta'+ayers9
Nation;ie6 t*e :A estimates t*e ne; treatment ;ill "ost
/1 billion in 2019 &t t*e a%en"y sai it *as se"&re
eno&%* f&nin% to e'+an t*e is+ensation of t*e mei"ine to
an in"reasin% n&mber of !ets9 M$ere *onore to be
able to e'+an treatment for !eterans ;*o are affli"te ;it*
*e+atitis 6 :A 8nerse"retary for ?ealt* Dr9 Da!i
*&lGin sai in a statement9 MTo mana%e limite reso&r"es
+re!io&sly6 ;e establis*e treatment +riority for t*e
si"Gest +atients9 M *ris FolE;i%6 a military !eteran from
r&ns;i"G6 arylan6 sai *is treatment of ?ar!oni
sa!e *im from s&fferin% se!ere li!er fail&re9 Mts a
mira"le6 FolE;i% sai9 Mf it ;asnt for t*is mei"ine6 ;o&lnt be
*ere9
FolE;i%6 ;*o re"ei!e *is treatment o!er t*e "o&rse of 1
;eeGs at t*e artinsb&r% :A ei"al enter6 sai t*e
?ar!oni +ills ;ere less ri%oro&s an +*ysi"ally "*allen%in%
t*an *is +re!io&s *e+atitis treatment6 an interferon
re%imen t*at FolE;i% "alle na&seatin%9
Dr9 B!elio ra!o6 a +*ysi"ian at t*e artinsb&r% :A
ei"al enter6 sai t*e +ills *a!e a !ery *i%* s&""ess rate
;it* lo"al +atients9 Mears a%o6 t*e (oler) treatment ;as !ery
"om+li"ate ;it* sie effe"ts6 ra!o sai9 MT*e
+atient ;o&l feel ill &rin% t*e treatment9 M:A *as
lon% le t*e "o&ntry in s"reenin% for an treatin% *e+atitis 6
a
statement from t*e 899 De+artment of :eterans Affairs sai9 M:A
*as treate o!er 76000 :eterans infe"te ;it*
*e+atitis an a++ro'imately 06000 *a!e been "&re9
embers of on%ress *a!e "riti"iEe t*e man&fa"t&rer
of t*e mei"ine for not offerin% a ee+er is"o&nt to t*e
899 De+artment of :eterans Affairs9 MAmeri"aVs !eterans eser!e
t*e same afforable a""ess to life-sa!in%mei"ations s&"* as
sofosb&!ir t*at Filea is +ro!iin% to +atients in e!elo+in%
"o&ntries9 f t*ats not *a++enin%6
t*e "om+anys leaers nee to e'+lain ;*y6 sai Re+9 Heff iller
(R-,)6 "*airman of t*e 899 ?o&se :eterans
Affairs ommittee9 A s+oGes;oman for Filea6 t*e
man&fa"t&rer of o!ali an ?ar!oni6 sai +ri"e is"o&nts
are
offere for t*e mei"ation9 Most +ayers re"ei!e s&bstantial
is"o&nts off t*is +ri"e6 ;it* t*e stee+est is"o&nts
%oin% to +ayers liGe ei"ai an t*e :A6 s+oGes;oman ara iller sai9
Mot* t*e :A an ei"ai "&rrently
re"ei!e is"o&nts in e'"ess of 50 +er"ent on ?ar!oni9 $it*
t*ese rebates an is"o&nts6 t*e +ri"es toay are less t*an
t*e "ost of +rior re%imens9 [o&r"eK N-4 $as*in%ton D . "ott
a",arlane . A+ril of 1+6
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&nerse"retary for benefits at t*e :A9 T*e ei"al Disability
B'amination #ro%ram seeGs to "onsoliate mei"al
e'aminations "ontra"ts into a sin%le "ontra"t !e*i"le t*at is
mana%e by a "entral mana%ement team ;it*
re+resentati!es from bot* t*e :eterans ?ealt* Aministration an
t*e :eterans enefits Aministration9 A :A
strate%i" a">&isition "enter in ,reeri"G6 arylan ;ill
o!ersee t*e enter+rise;ie "ontra"t9 [o&r"eK Fo!on$ire
. Hane B;ars . ar"* &ality9 An ine+enent assessment manate
by on%ress6
"on&"te last year by "ons<in% firms in"l&in%
"Iinsey an RAND6 fo&n t*at :A *os+itals an fa"ilities
+ro!ie MstriGin%ly ifferent +atient e'+erien"es6 a++ly
in"onsistent b&siness +ro"esses6 an iffer ;iely on
Geymeas&res of +erforman"e an effi"ien"y9X An if anyone still
"ontin&es to o&bt6 t*ey only nee to looG at t*e :As
o;n ata6 ;*i"* s*o; "onitions at t*e :A "ontin&e
eterioratin%9 Tro&ble :A fa"ilities s&"* as #*oeni' still
*a!e
e'"essi!e ;ait times9 !er 6000 a++ointments for "are in #*oeni'
*a!e ;ait times of one mont* or lon%er9 An its
e!en ;orse in ol&mbia6 o&t* arolina6 ;*ere arry oates
faile to %et t*e "are *e neee9 As of ar"* 1st6 o!er
1< +er"ent of a++ointments mae for "are t*ere *a!e one-mont*
;ait times6 ;it* o!er 16000 elaye lon%er t*an 120
ays9
#a%e + of 1+6
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An t*e +roblems are still %ettin% ;orse9 ast year t*e
n&mber of ba"Glo%%e !eterans ;as 50 +er"ent *i%*er t*an
at t*e *ei%*t of t*e ;ait-list s"anal9 An as of t*is +ast
Han&ary6 o!er &est A++9 T*is
a++ allo;s :eterans to !ie;6 s"*e&le an "an"el +rimary "are
an mental *ealt* a++ointments as ;ell as tra"G t*e
stat&s of t*e a++ointment re>&est an re!ie;
&+"omin% a++ointments9 t is "&rrently a!ailable in 10
lo"ations an
*as re"ei!e +ositi!e feeba"G from t*e !ast maLority of :eterans
&sin% t*e a++9 :A e'+e"ts to maGe t*e a++
a!ailable to all :eterans by early 20179 t*er efforts
&ner;ay in"l&e a ;#%,it# #n8-n"##nt t*at ;ill
allo;
:eterans to "*e"G ;ait times in real time ;*ere e!er t*ey li!e P
t*is in"l&es ne; an e'istin% +atients an a ne;6
easy-to-&se s"*e&lin% soft;are +ro%ram9 T*e ne; +ro%ram
is bein% +ilote in 10 sites an is e'+e"te to re&"e
s"*e&lin% errors an en*an"e :As ability to meas&re an
tra"G s&++ly6 eman an &sa%e9
y:A A""ess is +art of y:A6 intro&"e in 2014 by :A
e"retary Robert "Donal follo;in% one of t*e most
"*allen%in% times in t*e *istory of :A9 y:A is "entere aro&n
t*e nees of :eterans by +&ttin% t*em first in
#a%e 30 of 1+6
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e!eryt*in% :A oes9 in"e t*at time6 :A *as mae si%nifi"ant
+ro%ress in aition to t*e ne; initiati!es anno&n"e
by Dr9 *&lGin9 Amon% t*e *ealt* "are +ro%ress maeK
• Nationally6 :A "om+lete more t*an 579
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Dela;are6 llinois6 Ne; orG6 Te'as an :ermont met a%en"y tar%ets9
Refer to :As 8nerse"retary of ?ealt* !ieo
*tt+K33!ieos9&satoay9net3ri%*t"o!e232017000132013043201700014
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+roLe"ts9 ,armerVs em+loyer t*en &se t*e "onfiential
information to +re+are a +ro+osal to be "*osen as t*e
ar"*ite"t&ral firm to esi%n a !eteransV *os+ital in $est os
An%eles6 alifornia9 Assistant 899 Attorney Antoinette
a"on6 in ar%&in% for a *i%*er senten"e6 %a!e ioi a refres*er
on t*e "o&nty "orr&+tion in!esti%ation an *o;
,armerVs s"*eme fit into t*e timeline9 n 45 min&tes of
remarGs6 a"on s*o;e t*at ,armer ;as ;orGin% ;it*
onta%&e on a le!elan :A +roLe"t in 2006 aro&n t*e same
time t*at a%ents from t*e , an t*e nternal
Re!en&e er!i"e raie t*e *omes an b&sinesses of se!eral
le!elan-area "ontra"tors an +&bli" offi"ials9
ater6 ;*en ,armer starte bribin% onta%&e6 t*e "ase
a%ainst former &ya*o%a o&nty ommissioner Himmy
Dimora "ase ;as ;ell &ner;ay6 an t*ey "ontin&e e!en as
Dimora ;as trie an fo&n %&ilty9 X?e *a ;arnin%
fla%s9 ?e *a t*e ability to sto+6 b&t instea *e barrele
a*ea6X a"on sai of ,armer9 T*e +rose"&tor also trie to
"om+are ,armerVs a"tions to ,erris Ileem6 $illiam Nei*eiser an
te!en #&m+er6 t*ree le!elan-area "ontra"tors
;*o ;ere senten"e in t*e "orr&+tion "ase9 Ileem an Nei*eiser
ser!e t*ree-year +rison senten"es an #&m+er is
ser!in% an ei%*t-year stint9 a"on sai t*at ,armerVs "ase
s*o&l be ;ei%*e a%ainst t*eirs an +enaliEe
a""orin%ly be"a&se *is bribes ;ere *i%*er an t*e benefits to
*is firm W ;ort* ro&%*ly /
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rent6 a /500 +er mont* allo;an"e an /110 for +*one an "able9
Des+ite a++arently *a!in% more t*an eno&%*
in"ome to "o!er *er mont*ly e'+enses6 ?all sai *is sisters banG
balan"e *as nearly been raine ry from a
be%innin% balan"e of a++ro'imately /
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"onta"t t*e :A to ;orG o&t a +ayment +lan or to see if t*ere
are any +ro%rams a!ailable for *el+9 T*e n&mber is 1-
-400-12
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Reli%io&s ,reeom ,o&nation (R,,) on 4 A#R6 Iristen
#arGer6 "*ief of e'ternal affairs for le!elan :A
ei"al enter -- ;*i"* *anles meia for t*e o&n%sto;n "lini" --
sai t*e ible ;as Xre+la"e ;it* a %eneri"
booG6 one ;*ose symbolism "an be ini!i&aliEe by ea"*
of o&r !eterans as t*ey +ay t*eir res+e"tsX to #$s an
As9 #arGer tol ilitary9"om on T&esay t*at be"a&se t*e :A
"annot enorse6 fa!or or in*ibit any s+e"ifi"
reli%ion6 X;e are s&++ortin% o&r lo"al !eteran
or%aniEations ;it* t*eir e"ision to &se a +ro+-booG on t*e
#$3A
Table at o&r o&n%sto;n ["lini"]9X #arGer +re!io&sly
sai t*e "lini" ;o&l s&++ort t*e Disable Ameri"an
:eterans -- t*e %ro&+ t*at set &+ t*e table -- in its
e"ision to is+lay t*e ible on t*e missin% man table9
T*e s;it"* ;as mae after t*e !eteran ;*o initiate t*e "om+laint6
;orGin% ;it* t*e ilitary Reli%io&s ,reeom
,o&nation6 res+one to t*e "lini"Vs initial ref&sal to
+&ll t*e ible by emanin% a se+arate table be set &+ ;it*
t*e
He;is* Tora* an a "o+y of XT*e Fo Del&sion6X a +o+&lar
booG on at*eism9 Xf in t*e f&t&re e"ie to a t*e
&ran6 or ormon booG of atter Day aints6 t*at is my im+lie
ri%*t6X retire Army a+t9 Horan Ray ;rote9 T*e
R,,6 ;*i"* often b&tts *eas ;it* t*e military o!er
reli%io&s is+lays6 *as no; mae Ray its ire"tor of :eterans
Affairs9 obby &ller6 a "o-fo&ner an +ast +resient of
:ietnam :eterans of Ameri"a an a member of t*e
R,,Vs a!isory boar6 follo;e &+ RayVs letter ;it* one on 1
A#R6 reiteratin% RayVs eman an notin% t*e "lini"
X"an +robably e'+e"t more emans for aitional is+lays
in"l&in% a !ariety of ot*er reli%io&s an
nonreli%io&s
te'ts in t*e !ery near f&t&re9X #arGer i not res+on ;*en
asGe if t*e eman t*at ot*er booGs %et e>&al treatment
on a memorial table +laye a +art in t*e :A "lini"Vs e"ision9
issin% man tables are set &+ as memorials to remember
t*e fallen an t*e missin% ;*o ne!er ret&rne *ome9
T*o&%* t*e tables set &+ at t*e *io fa"ilities
in"l&e a ible6 ilitary9"omVs sear"* of missin% man table
ima%es
t&rne &+ memorials ;it*o&t a ible at military bases
an at a :A fa"ility in arylan9 T*e ibleVs remo!al from
t*e o&n%sto;n fa"ility re+resents t*e se"on time sin"e
,ebr&ary t*at t*e R,, for"e t*e remo!al of a ible
from a missin% man table at an *io :A "lini"9 T*e :A AGron
+e"ialty &t+atient lini" remo!e a Ne;
Testament ible on ,eb9 25 after t*e %ro&+ ;as "onta"te by a
isable !eteran tro&ble by +res&m+tion t*at all
#$s an As are *ristian9 X Gno; for a fa"t t*at all #$-As ;ere
not *ristian be"a&se my %ranfat*er
;as A from $orl $ar an *e ;as He;is*6X t*e AGron ea"on
Ho&rnal >&ote t*e &nientifie !eteran as
sayin% in a story +&blis*e ar"* 129 R,, ,o&ner iGey
$einstein sai nine ot*er !eterans from t*e AGron
"lini" Loine in t*e "om+laint6 ;*i"* *e bro&%*t to t*e
"lini" leaers*i+9 ?e sai t*e ible ;as remo!e ;it*in t*ree
ays9 [o&r"eK ilitary9"om . ryant Horan . A+r 06 201 @@]
*A OC .o$n!,to;n OH Upd-t# 01 MRFF (ir#"tor R#,i!n,
T*e ire"tor of !eteransV affairs for t*e "i!il ri%*ts
or%aniEation ilitary Reli%io&s ,reeom ,o&nation resi%ne
5
A#R L&st ays into t*e Lob after *e an *is family ;ere
t*reatene by reli%io&s e'tremists an%ry o!er *is role in
t*e
remo!al of a ible from a missin% man memorial at a !eterans
"lini"9 n 4 A#R6 Horan Ray6 a retire Army "a+tain
#a%e 36 of 1+6
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;*o ser!e m<i+le o!erseas to&rs6 starte *is Lob ;it*
t*e R,,9 n T&esay6 follo;in% ilitary9"omVs re+ort
abo&t ibleVs remo!al an RayVs role in it6 *e an *is family
;ere st&nne an fri%*tene by t*e t*reats mae a%ainst
t*em in online for&ms9 X "annot belie!e e+loye fi!e times to
fi%*t rai"al slamists o!erseas only to "ome *ome6
!oi"e my o+inion6 an be atta"Ge by rai"al *ristians6X Ray6 416
sai in *is letter of resi%nation6 a "o+y of ;*i"*
;as +ro!ie to ilitary9"om on $enesay9 X$*oVs +erse"&tin%
;*oQX
n an inter!ie; Ray sai in aition to online t*reats6 *e
re"ei!e !oi"e messa%es left on *is familyVs *ome +*onet*at *e tooG
as !eile t*reats9 T*ey "alle *im X%oless s [;*o] s*o&l Gill
o&rsel!es6 ie6 et"96X *e sai9 Ray6
416 sai *e ser!e in t*e Army for 1< years before "ombat
inL&ries to *is s+ine an ner!o&s system for"e *is
retirement ;it* a f&ll isability ratin%9 iGey $einstein6
+resient of t*e or%aniEation6 tol ilitary9"om *e re%rette
RayVs resi%nation b&t &nerstans it9 Xy family6 as ;ell
as R,,Vs *&nres of +ai an !ol&nteer staff an
"o&ntless s&++orters omesti"ally an aro&n t*e ;orl
Gno; ;ell ;*at t*is Gin of *ostile re+risal an retrib&tion
from f&namentalist e!an%eli"al *ristian e'tremists is liGe6X
*e sai9 $einstein sai *e ro&tinely re"ei!es *ate mail6
some of it anti-emiti"6 from +eo+le an%ry t*at *e "*allen%es
military offi"ials ;*ene!er t*ere are alle%ations of
im+ro+er is+lays of reli%ion9
7ord-n R-4 A:ron M$ltiSp#"i-lt4 OC Mi,,in! M-n M#ori-l
Ray "onta"te t*e or%aniEation last mont* after seein% t*e ible
on t*e missin% man table9 t*er !eterans6 ;*o
*a!e remaine &nientifie6 Loine in t*e "om+laint9 T*e
o&n%sto;n in"ient ;as t*e se"on time t*at t*e %ro&+
+resse an *io :A "lini" o!er its is+lay of a ible on a
missin% man is+lay9 n ,ebr&ary6 t*e "lini" in AGron
remo!e t*e ible9 Ray sai *e ser!e t;o 1-mont* e+loyments to
Af%*anistan as an a!iser to t*e Af%*an
National Army6 as ;ell as to&rs in erbia6 Ioso!o6
B%y+tVs inai an atar9 n *is letter of resi%nation6 *e sai *e
"ontin&es to s&++ort ;*at t*e fo&nation oes in
o++osin% e'tremist *ristians ;*o +&s* t*eir t*eolo%y on
ot*ers9
&t ;*ile *e s&++orts t*e fo&nationVs mission6 Ray
sai *e "o&l not o so as an offi"ial re+resentati!e X&e
to
,&namentalist6 B!an%elist6 an Dominionist t*reats mae
a%ainst myself6 my ;ife6 an my "*il in online for&ms
sim+ly for stanin% &+ to ;*at belie!e is a
"onstit&tional ri%*t of all soliers an !eterans e>&ality
;*en it "omes
to ,ait* an ieolo%y9X [o&r"eK ilitary9"om . ryant Horan .
A+r 06 201 @@]
' *#t, '
#a%e 3 of 1+6
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