VA Needs Legislative Push to Inform Veterans of Health Issues Connected to Military...

VA Needs Legislative Push to Inform Veterans of Health Issues Connected to
Military Service

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Federal law stipulates that the
Department of Veterans Affairs has a responsibility to inform veterans of the
benefits they have earned by virtue of their service to our nation while in
uniform," said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America
(VVA). "What is needed, however, is legislation to mandate that the VA inform
veterans -- and the healthcare community -- of health issues associated with
military service."

In testimony today before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, Rowan said that the VA "does a woefully inadequate job of
reaching out to veterans and their families to inform them of the benefits to
which they are entitled" -- certainly to the almost 80 percent of veterans
who do not use the VA for their health care.

This state of affairs has led VVA, in concert with dozens of health advocacy
organizations, healthcare firms, and others concerned about improving the
health of our nation's veterans, to create the Veterans Health Council. "By
working together," Rowan said, "we hope to reach out to veterans and their
families to inform them about those diseases and other maladies that may
derive from their time in service. We hope, too, to reach out to the wider
healthcare community, to educate them about such health conditions.

"Through our Web site, www.veteranshealth.org, and the Web sites and
publications of our partners, we can reach hundreds of thousands of veterans
who otherwise might not know that a disease that is plaguing them and eating
away at their savings may be associated with their service in Vietnam, or
Kuwait, or Iraq, or Afghanistan, and that they are eligible for treatment and
may qualify for disability compensation and pension as well as other benefits
from the VA.

"While we have every confidence that Secretary Shinseki and his team will
endeavor to make far greater efforts at outreach, we believe that legislation
is needed that would require the VA to devise a coordinated outreach plan
attached to budget numbers," Rowan said. "Such legislation, which would
dovetail with the Obama Administration's move to a national system of
electronic medical records, would mandate that a veteran's medical/health
history be part of his/her treatment record, if a veteran uses VA facilities
or chooses to go to private physicians; require that clinicians ask if a
patient has ever served in the U.S. military and, if so, ask a series of
follow-up questions; and require that all VA clinicians, particularly primary
care providers, take and receive certification for the VA's Veterans Health
Initiative curriculum every three years."

PLEASE NOTE: Because of an unanticipated and unavoidable conflict with the
venue where VVA had scheduled a press event prior to this hearing, the press
event has been cancelled. However, Mr. Rowan will be available to the Media
for interviews before and after the hearing.

CONTACT: Mokie Porter
301-585-4000, Ext. 146
301-996-0901

SOURCE Vietnam Veterans of America

Mokie Porter of Vietnam Veterans of America, +1-301-585-4000, Ext. 146,
+1-301-996-0901