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NOVEMBER 2009
REP. BUYER SEES
PROBLEMS FOR VETS IN HEALTH CARE BILL
(11-07-09)
Steve Buyer objects "to the bill
that was unveiled today because it would limit veterans' ability
to choose a health care provider."
SHINSEKI CALLS FORT
HOOD SHOOTINGS "SENSELESS"
(11-07-09)
VA Secretary makes remarks during
address at the University of South Florida.
SEN. COBURN STALLS
VETERANS' CAREGIVERS BILL
(11-06-09)
The bill's centerpiece is
unprecedented support for family caregivers of severely wounded
veterans, those injured since 9/11.
VA SEEKS SYSTEM TO
TRACK AND ASSESS PTSD TREATMENT
(11-05-09)
The software will run alongside VA's
VistA computerized patient record system and extract data on
veterans' PTSD care.
SHINSEKI: FIXING
PROBLEMS AT MARION VA A "PERSONAL PRIORITY"
(11-05-09)
Sen. Roland Burris: "What I learned
from Marion was there were a lot of people who knew what was
going on and were just afraid to speak out."
SHINSEKI UNVEILS
PLAN TO END HOMELESS VET CRISIS
(11-04-09)
"President Obama and I are
personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans
within the next five years."
 MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP AT
MARION VA HOSPITAL
(11-04-09)
Hospital director removed but will
continue career with VA. Quality Management team arrives
Thursday for further investigation.
VAOIG: PROBLEMS
STILL RAMPANT AT MARION, ILL. VA HOSPITAL
(11-03-09)
Report shows inconsistencies with
reporting deaths and problems with patient safety, including
surgeons performing procedures they weren't authorized to
perform.
A LOOK BACK: U.S.
MILITARY HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION
(11-02-09)
Edgewood Arsenal Medical Volunteer
Handbook and 1994 GAO report reveal the dark side of human
experiments.
SENATE NOW HAS AGENT
ORANGE EQUITY ACT, TOO
(11-02-09)
Sen. Gillibrand's S. 1939, identical
to Rep. Filner's H.R. 2254, will resolve VA's discriminatory
"boots on the ground" ruling.
VAOIG: VA HAS
PROBLEMS TRACKING FLOW OF STIMULUS FUNDS
(11-02-09)
VA needs to more closely follow
Recovery Act reporting requirements related to the awarding and
use of funds.
OCTOBER 2009
ACT OF DESPERATION:
VA SEEKS OUTSIDE HELP TO FIX G.I. BILL PAYMENT MESS
(10-29-09) 
VA's inability to process G.I. Bill
payments on time forces agency to find private contractor to
bail them out.
DUCKWORTH APOLOGIZES
FOR VA'S G.I. BILL PAYMENT SNAFU
(10-28-09)
This, as reports indicate VA will be
late with up to 14,000 G.I. Bill payments due November 1.
HAS A VA DOCTOR
FOUND A CURE FOR CANCER?
(10-27-09)
Motivated by his wife's death from
cancer, the doctor made a promise to one of his teenage sons to
slay the demon disease that ravaged their beautiful mother.
SHINSEKI, GATES HOST
MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT
(10-27-09)
Striking down the stigma associated
with the mental health risks of service in a combat zone is
among the priorities of the joint VA-DoD conclave.
RESEARCH: DIABETES
DRUGS NO HELP TO HEART
(10-26-09)
Commonly-prescribed drugs for Type 2
diabetes offer no cardiac benefit and may put heart at greater
risk.
ATLANTA VA
"CONFIDENT" ITEMS TAKEN AT STAND DOWN NOW RETURNED
(10-23-09)
VA spokesperson says employees have
returned merchandise meant for distribution to homeless
veterans.
PRESIDENT OBAMA
SIGNS VA'S ADVANCE FUNDING BILL
(10-23-09)
Obama: "It ensures that veterans'
health care will no longer be held hostage to the annual budget
battles in Washington."
SHINSEKI ADDS 4
JUDGES TO BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS
(10-22-09)
VA Secretary Shinseki:
 "This
expansion of BVA will enable Veterans to receive more
expeditious decisions on their appeals."
OBAMA PRESENTS
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION TO VIETNAM VETS
(10-21-09)
Citation awarded for extraordinary
heroism and conspicuous gallantry to 86 members of the Army's
Troop A, First Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
VA OUTREACH AIMED AT
NEW G.I. BILL VETERANS
(10-20-09)
VA Secretary Shinseki: "We're
reaching out to Veterans so they can get the money they need to
stay in school."
PTSD VETS TWICE AS
LIKELY TO DIE WITHIN A YEAR OF SURGERY
(10-20-09)
"The magnitude of the detrimental
effect of PTSD diagnosis on postoperative mortality is
unexpectedly large -- greater than that of diabetes."
BUYER DEFENDS
SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WHICH HASN'T HELPED ONE STUDENT
(10-20-09)
"No good deed goes unpunished ...
you see the need ... you want to do good, you want to help
people, but all of a sudden I'm getting smacked around for it."
VA EMPLOYEES STEAL
FROM HOMELESS VETERANS
(10-19-09)
Internal email says employees took
merchandise specifically donated to help homeless veterans at
Stand Down held by Atlanta VA. "For every item stolen, there is
a veteran somewhere whose day-to-day life is now a little more
difficult."
NO COLA IN 2010
MEANS MANY WILL HAVE TO SCRIMP
(10-17-09)
The money isn't the biggest issue,
some say. It's the message the government is sending about
caring.
VA OFFERS NEW
GRAVESITE LOCATOR FOR MOBILE DEVICES
(10-17-09)
"It will simplify and enhance the
experience of many who visit our national cemeteries."
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 11
(10-16-09)
Kurt Priessman concludes his series
with, "What do We do with the Jobs, People and Property?"
TURNAROUND: SUDDENLY
THE VA LOVES ITS VistA SOFTWARE
(10-16-09)
VA's CIO is calling VistA "the best
in the world" and seeking to offer it to the rest of the
government and the private health care industry.
IT'S OFFICIAL: NO
VA, SS COLA IN 2010
(10-16-09)
President Obama supports a one-time
$250
payment, but not all politicians think that is appropriate.
OBAMA ENDORSES $250
PAYMENTS TO DISABLED VETS, SENIORS
(10-15-09)
Figures coming out soon indicate no
COLA for 2010, so one-time payment would help those hardest hit
by recession.
SHINSEKI GIVES "STATE
OF THE VA" ADDRESS TO HOUSE PANEL
(10-15-09)
"Our mission is to serve veterans by
increasing their access to VA benefits and services, to provide
them the highest quality of health care available, and to
control costs to the best of our ability."
SENATE APPROVES
ADVANCE FUNDING FOR VA BUDGET
(10-15-09)
Legislation is now on the way to
President Obama for his signature.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 10
(10-14-09)
Kurt Priessman offers solutions
with, "Restore Accountability and Rights to Due Process."
VA CONFIRMS NEW AGENT
ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES -- NOW WHAT?
(10-14-09)
Approval of ischemic heart disease
expected to clog VA's already backlogged disability benefits
system.
REPORT:
VA TO ADD AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE DISEASES
(10-13-09)
VA will add Parkinson's, ischemic
heart disease and hairy-cell leukemia to list of diseases
presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure.
WHAT VA DOCTORS TALK
ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER
(10-13-09)
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland
"eavesdrops" on a VA physicians' bulletin board.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 9
(10-12-09)
Before offering solutions for a
reborn VA, Kurt Priessman explains "The Final Straw."
THUMBS UP OR DOWN: HOW
DOES YOUR VA HOSPITAL RATE?
(10-12-09)
While the VA doesn't
 provide
true side-by-side hospital ratings, VAOIG offers valuable
insights into the workings of your VA hospital.
HOUSE PASSES ADVANCE
FUNDING FOR VA BUDGET
(10-09-09)
Veterans' Service Organizations
praise legislation that will put an end to late VA budgets.
SENATORS HEAR OF
TROOPS' TOXIC EXPOSURES
(10-09-09)
From Camp Lejeune to Atsugi, from
burn pits to sodium dichromate, Senate Vets' Committee hears
about "witch's brew of toxic chemicals."
VA'S EMERGENCY CHECK
TOTAL NOW PAST $105 MILLION
(10-08-09)
VA has issued 36,161 emergency
checks to veterans whose New G.I. Bill benefits were delayed.
VA TO OFFER H1N1 FLU
VACCINE TO VETERANS
(10-08-09)
VA expects to administer 3 million
doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to veterans and VA staff.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES DATA
BREACH COULD IMPACT MILLIONS OF VETERANS
(10-06-09)
"This is the single largest release
of personally identifiable information by the government ever.
We leaked 70 million records, and no one has heard a word of
it."
SOME VETS HAVING
TROUBLE CASHING VA'S EMERGENCY CHECKS
(10-05-09)
VA is asking all banks to honor the
checks and has provided a toll-free number for verification.
JIM STRICKLAND'S "A to
Z GUIDE OF VETERANS DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS"
(10-05-09)
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland
launches the most authoritative and easy-to-use guide to a
successful VA claim.
VA DEFENDS ENDING GULF
WAR RESEARCH AT U. OF TEXAS
(10-05-09)
"We stand by our decision not to
exercise the third-year option with University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center."
VETS GET $50 MILLION IN
VA EMERGENCY FUNDS
(10-04-09)
Over 16,000 veterans signed up for
VA emergency funds to help pay the bills until G.I. Bill
payments arrive.
VA HAS NO BUDGET FOR
THE 20th TIME IN 23 YEARS
(10-02-09)
Agency is now operating on a
continuing resolution which will lead to rationing of care.
VA PRESS RELEASE
DISTORTS PHARMACY SATISFACTION DATA
(10-02-09)
VA shuffles "customer satisfaction"
data to paint a picture that isn't so.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 8
(10-02-09)
The latest commentary from Kurt
Priessman is titled, "The Hub and Spokes."
NEW G.I. BILL VETS CAN
SIGN-UP FOR EMERGENCY CHECKS ONLINE
(10-01-09)
But, they should consider delays
involved in issuing and mailing the checks.
VAOIG FINDS MAJOR
WEAKNESSES AT TWO VA REGIONAL OFFICES
(10-01-09)
Nashville, TN and Wilmington, DE
fall short of standards in many critical areas.
VAOIG: VA'S INFO TECH
PUTS $3.4 BILLION AT RISK
(10-01-09)
OI&T management control deficiencies
increased the risks that IT investments could experience cost
and schedule overruns, which could ultimately lead to other
costly, unproductive, or failed programs and projects.
VAOIG: 6 MORE VA
CLINICS FAIL TO MEET STANDARDS
(10-01-09)
Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
found lacking in 14 vital areas.
VAOIG CLOSES DOOR ON
VA'S DOCUMENT SHREDDING SCANDAL
(10-01-09)
Although report finds fault with
Regional Office mailrooms, says controls are in place to prevent
shredding of important claims documents.
VA SOLVES PROBLEM, BANS
RELEASE OF REPORTS
(10-01-09)
Reports like the one that found
glaring problems at the VA's Philly nursing home will no longer
be released to the public.
SEPTEMBER
2009
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 7
(09-30-09)
Kurt Priessman's latest commentary
is titled, "When the Wheel is Broken."
VAOIG REPORT BLASTS VA
FOR MISPLACED, LOST CLAIMS FOLDERS
(09-29-09)
VAOIG estimates
 that
claims folders for 296,00 vets were misplaced and 141,000
folders were lost, a total of 10 percent of
all folders.
OF CORPORATIONS, BASALT
BOULDERS, AND OUR VETERANS
(09-28-09)
Commentary by Gordon P. Erspamer:
"Does anyone really believe the VA when it says that veterans
don't need lawyers because the system is 'nonadversarial?'"
VA TO CUT EMERGENCY
CHECKS FOR G.I. BILL RECIPIENTS
(09-26-09)
Secretary Shinseki: "Students should
be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial
difficulties."
UPDATE: ATOMIC VETERAN'S WIDOW WINS CLAIM -- CASE CLOSED
(09-25-09)
"Until there is change in the very
ethos of this giant, dysfunctional machine, veterans will
continue to fight them in every way possible."
NEW G.I. BILL PAYMENTS
LAG AS VA JUGGLES NUMBERS
(09-25-09)
VA issues confusing numbers on G.I.
Bill payments as veterans worry about how they will pay the
rent.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 6
(09-25-09)
Kurt Priessman continues his
commentary series with, "Looking for Solutions to the Delays and
Denials."
VAOIG: INEFFICIENT VA
CAUSES DELAYS IN VETS' BENEFITS
(09-24-09)
"These delayed benefit payments have
the potential to adversely affect the economic status and
quality of life for veterans who are eligible for benefits."
VAOIG DETAILS PROBLEMS
AT MORE VA CLINICS
(09-24-09)
Report finds problems in 17 key
areas at seven VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.
FILNER SAYS VA / DoD
TURF WARS HURTING VETERAN CARE
(09-23-09)
House Vets' Committee Chair on
incompatible electronic medical records: "They've talked about
it for years and still haven't figured it out."
VAOIG: VA'S SUICIDE
PREVENTION PROGRAM ON TRACK
(09-23-09)
IG evaluated 24 VA facilities and
found they generally met program requirements.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 5
(09-23-09)
Kurt Priessman's latest commentary
asks, "Why is Planning the Brick That's Missing?"
VA SECRETARY DETAILS
AGENCY'S STIMULUS SPENDING
(09-22-09)
VA's Shinseki cites progress in
funds distribution, but there has been a glitch.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
DISABILITY COMPENSATION TO MEET
(09-21-09)
Open meeting to review VA's Schedule
for Rating Disabilities is in Washington, DC on September 21 and
22.
REPORT: VA'S PHILLY
NURSING HOME ENDANGERED PATIENTS
(09-19-09)
An inspection turned up conditions
placing veterans at imminent risk of harm, including one patient
whose leg had to be amputated after maggots were seen falling
from his foot.
VAOIG: 3 REPORTS FIND
FAULT WITH VA HEALTH CARE
(09-19-09)
Unreported abnormal chest X-ray,
technician suturing a patient, and failure to diagnose a stroke
among problems.
VAOIG: FOLLOW-UP REPORT
ON VA'S CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT
(09-18-09)
Among the 129 facilities inspected
in August, all 129 were compliant with respect to SOPs.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 4
(09-18-09)
Kurt Priessman's latest commentary
is titled, "Planning? Planning? We Don’t Need No Stinking
Planning!"
VA DREW BLOOD FOR
RESEARCH, VETERANS NOT INFORMED
(09-18-09)
Researchers at Philly VA drew blood
samples from veterans for a research project without their
knowledge or consent, resulting in "serious noncompliance" with
federal law and regulations.
VAOIG: NEW VA SOFTWARE
EFFORT MAKING SAME OLD MISTAKES
(09-17-09)
VA's new FLITE software is mired in
the same mistakes made by developers of CoreFLS, the infamous
third of a billion dollar boondoggle.
DISABLED VETS STILL
FACING ZERO PERCENT COLA FOR 2010
(09-17-09)
Social Security recipients
 and
veterans who receive VA disability compensation can expect no
increase in monthly benefits.
THE ATOMIC VETERAN'S
WIDOW AND HER CLAIM
(09-17-09)
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland
examines a VA claim decision you just won't believe.
LETTER FROM VA SAYS
EMPLOYEES REMOVED EVIDENCE FROM CLAIM FILE
(09-16-09)
Profanity-laced letter from VA's
Montgomery Regional Office tells widow that VA employees
deliberately removed medical records from her late husband's
file. Now, VAOIG is investigating widow.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 3
(09-16-09)
The latest article from Kurt
Priessman asks, "How did the VA Stray so Far from Its Mission
and Structure?"
NEW STUDY: IRAQ VETERAN
PTSD RATE AS HIGH AS 35%
(09-15-09)
The authors write, the VA system,
which is already experiencing significant delays for PTSD
treatment, urgently needs to ramp up its mental health resource
capacity.
DAV KICKS OFF "VIRTUAL
MARCH" ON WASHINGTON
(09-15-09)
One of the goals is to discuss the
VA's outdated and overwhelmed disability claims process and the
resulting backlog of nearly 1 million claims.
IS VA'S SUICIDE
PREVENTION EMAIL ANTI-GUN?
(09-14-09)
Email sent to VA's Central Texas
users raises concerns about anti-gun message. Veterans' Advocate
Jim Strickland explains.
STUDY: VA CARE COSTS
33% MORE THAN PRIVATE SECTOR CARE
(09-14-09)
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland
looks at study by Dr. William Weeks of the Dartmouth Institute
for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.
VA SEEKS EMPLOYEE INPUT ON ENDING CLAIMS BACKLOG
(09-11-09)
"These employees who grapple with
the claims process every day have the first hand knowledge and
experience necessary to help us understand inefficiencies and
improve the system."
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 2
(09-11-09)
The second installment of Kurt Priessman's
series asks the question: "Is it a Vision Gone Blind?"
COURT THROWS OUT VA'S
"EXTRAORDINARY AWARDS" REVIEWS
(09-11-09)
Federal Court says VA's reviews of
large dollar awards "is not in accordance with 'law, rule, or
regulation,' and is invalid."
COURT: STATE CAN SEIZE
VA BENEFITS TO PAY FOR CARE
(09-10-09)
Upheld VA regulations allowing a
state hospital to receive a portion of the benefits of a veteran
whom the agency has classified as mentally incompetent.
COURT: VA CAN PRESUME
COMPETENCE OF ITS MEDICAL EXPERTS
(09-10-09)
Unless veteran can prove VA expert
is not qualified, then Court presumes competence under
"presumption of regularity" doctrine.
THE VA: TEAR IT DOWN
BRICK BY BRICK -- PART 1
(09-09-09)
Kurt Priessman begins his
thought-provoking series with, "What Gives Us Pause to
Consider?"
PTSD: VIETNAM'S LEGACY
AFTER FOUR DECADES
(09-08-09)
"I figured these guys were doing it
to collect a disability check. It took two to three years before
I started realizing what I was doing was crazy."
ISRAELIS CLAIM "BRAIN
PROFILING" TOOL PREDICTS PTSD
(09-04-09)
The tool will permit clinicians to
diagnose and treat soldiers immediately, before the stressors of
combat lead to chronic psychological problems.
VA SAYS SOME HOUSING
CHECKS IN THE MAIL
(09-03-09)
VA claims most September housing
checks for the New G.I. Bill have been sent out.
TRICARE A WINNER AS
PFIZER SETTLES LARGEST FRAUD CASE
(09-03-09)
But, TRICARE didn't
 always
win. We look back as former VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi,
now Pfizer's chief lobbyist, pulled the billion dollar
boondoggle.
VAOIG: VA BOTCHES
STIMULUS GRANTS FOR STATE VETERANS' HOMES
(09-02-09)
Program's insufficient and
inadequately trained staff jeopardizes state grants by delaying
the distribution of stimulus funds.
VA'S EDUCATION CLAIMS
BACKLOG JUMPS 20,000 IN ONE WEEK
(09-02-09)
VA losing ground as claims for New
G.I. Bill benefits keep mounting.
VA ADDS ONLINE CHAT TO
SUICIDE PREVENTION OUTREACH
(09-01-09)
Pilot program is an online,
one-to-one chat service for Veterans who prefer reaching out for
assistance using the Internet.
AUGUST 2009
 VETERANS' BENEFITS
CLAIMS KEEP PILING UP AT VA
(08-31-09)
Claims backlog continues to grow
with latest figures showing a 17.3% increase since the first of
the year.
VA NOW SAYS 600 VETS
GOT BOGUS ALS DIAGNOSIS LETTER
(08-28-09)
Since acknowledging the mistake, the
VA has increased its estimate on the number of veterans who
received the letters in error.
VA IS WEEKS BEHIND
DELIVERING NEW G.I. BILL PAYMENTS
(08-28-09)
After five years in the Army and
four days into his second year at the U. of Iowa, Drew Mangler
is unsure how he will pay his rent.
VA TO PAY VETERANS FOR
ALS TESTING
(08-27-09)
CNN reports that VA will
reimburse vets who got bogus ALS diagnosis letter for private
tests, if performed.
VAOIG: VA SPENDS $70MIL
FOR SOFTWARE, GETS NOTHING
(08-27-09)
IG finds that VA's planning and
oversight of the patient scheduling project was lacking and/or
ineffective.
VA CANCELS GULF WAR
RESEARCH CONTRACT
(08-27-09)
VA blames University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, but the U. says this is VA's
unilateral decision.
VAOIG: MORE VA CLINICS
FAIL TO MEET STANDARDS
(08-27-09)
Six outpatient clinics in CA and NV
found deficient in 14 important areas.
FOX ACCUSED OF EDITING
VA DIRECTIVE TO CHANGE MEANING
(08-26-09)
Media Matters reveals the parts of
the end-of-life directive you didn't see on the Fox News screen.
VA FINALLY RESPONDS TO BOGUS ALS DIAGNOSIS LETTER
(08-25-09)
VA offers "sincere apologies for the
distress caused by this unfortunate and regrettable error."
VA MUM ON BOGUS ALS
DIAGNOSIS LETTER SENT TO VETS
(08-25-09)
At least 1,200 vets got a letter
from VA telling them they have ALS, when they don't.
 WILL VA PROPOSAL REALLY
SIMPLIFY PTSD COMPENSATION?
(08-25-09)
Two attorneys who practice veterans'
law say VA's proposed rule change is not what it appears to be.
FOX NEWS TRIPS
DUCKWORTH ON VA'S END-OF-LIFE GUIDE
(08-24-09)
Confusion reigns as VA's Tammy
Duckworth flubs interview over "Your Life, Your Choices"
end-of-life guide. (with videos)
VAOIG FINDS MAJOR FLAWS
IN VA'S OUTPATIENT CLINICS
(08-21-09)
Community Based Outpatient Clinics
in nation's heartland need to improve in 16 critical areas.
REP. STEVE BUYER'S PLAN
GOES AWRY WITH VA INFO TECH SCANDAL
(08-21-09)
Buyer's push for centralized info
tech at VA led to "strong" CIO, Robert Howard, who let employees
give away the store.
VA'S INFO TECH SCANDAL
CAUSES MEDIA TIDAL WAVE
(08-21-09)
Millions in bonuses, nepotism,
inappropriate relationship and stench of corruption captures
mainstream media attention.
VAOIG NAMES VA'S FORMER INFO
TECH CHIEF IN SCANDAL
(08-20-09)
Subordinate of Robert Howard
benefited from inappropriate relationship. Howard at center of
two reports detailing nepotism, abuse of authority, misuse of
position and more.
VA'S END-OF-LIFE GUIDE
BOOK DRAWS FIRE
(08-20-09)
Critics say guide presents
end-of-life choices in a way aimed at steering users toward
predetermined conclusions.
VETERANS COLA FOR 2010
STILL TRACKING AT ZERO PERCENT
(08-19-09)
CPI-W goes negative in July leaving
expectation of no COLA for 2010.
OBAMA PROMISES IT ALL
TO VETERANS AT VFW CONVENTION
(08-18-09)
Protected health care - concurrent
receipt - advance funding - reduce homelessness - cut red tape
in claims process - and, there's more.
 VA SEC. SHINSEKI:
"WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN"
(08-18-09)
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki also says
VA benefits won't change under health care reform.
VA SEEKS EMPLOYEE INPUT
ON IMPROVING AGENCY
(08-17-09)
VA Transformation Task Force looks
for "Big Idea" and will survey 26,000 employees to identify
needed changes.
CBO REPORT: HARD TO
MEASURE QUALITY OF VA HEALTH CARE
(08-15-09)
While the VA can use its data to
show its own improvement over the years, comparisons of the
agency's performance with non-VA providers "are problematic" and
"need to be interpreted with caution."
BUYER: HEALTH REFORM
BILL DOESN'T PASS "REALITY CHECK"
(08-14-09)
Could classify certain veterans
enrolled in VA as not meeting "acceptable" health coverage
standards, exposing them to punitive new taxes.
VA NOT LIKELY TO
PROCESS NEW G.I. BILL BENEFITS ON TIME
(08-14-09)
Congressional source: The situation
is "not pretty, and it's going to get uglier."
COURT RULES FOR VETERAN
IN VA BENEFITS "DUE PROCESS" CASE
(08-14-09)
"We conclude that such entitlement
to benefits is a property interest protected by the Due Process
Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States
Constitution."
APPEALS COURT URGES
MEDIATION OR SETTLEMENT IN VA LAWSUIT
(08-13-09)
Judge: "Congress and the
administration should resolve the problem, but if they don't,
you're left unfortunately with the court to do it."
U.S., VIETNAM AGENT
ORANGE COMMITTEE TO MEET
(08-13-09)
Committee has representatives from
the U.S. Departments of State, Defense and HHS, as well as EPA
and CDC.
VA CONTINUES FUNDING
FOR LIMB-LOSS RESEARCH
(08-12-09)
Focus is on tissue engineering,
orthopaedics, neurotechnology, prosthetics design, and
rehabilitation -- all in a bid to create "biohybrid" limbs made
of both biological and man-made materials.
 AGENT ORANGE DANGERS
KNOWN AS EARLY AS 1965
(08-11-09)
Dow Chemical employee: "This
material is exceptionally toxic; it has a tremendous potential
for producing chloracne and systemic injury."
APPEALS COURT TO HEAR
LANDMARK LAWSUIT AGAINST VA
(08-11-09)
"We are here today to demand
justice, to see that the judicial system and executive branch
are held accountable for VA's failure to properly and promptly
treat our sick veterans."
INVESTIGATION: SPOKANE
VETERAN SUICIDES MUCH HIGHER THAN REPORTED
(08-10-09)
"The methods and sources routinely
being utilized by the medical center to identify veterans who
have committed suicide may be inadequate."
UNIV. EXPECTING A
10-WEEK DELAY IN G.I. BILL PAYMENTS
(08-10-09)
VA asks for "flexibility and forbearance" as veterans wonder how
they are going to pay their bills.
BUYER: NATIONAL HEALTH
BILL COULD STILL HARM VETS
(08-07-09)
"Contrary to statements by ... the
White House, all of the concerns about legislative language in
the bill that could harm veterans' health care have not been
addressed."
SHINSEKI WANTS TO
"TEACH RESILIENCE" TO PTSD
(08-06-09)
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki indicates
that troops can be taught not to get PTSD.
FILNER LEGISLATION
WOULD LET VA BILL MEDICARE
(08-06-09)
Rep. Bob Filner: "H.R. 3365 is an
important bill that would allow elderly veterans to access both
VA health care and their Medicare benefits."
OBAMA TO LEGION: NO
CHANGES AT VA
(08-05-09)
President assures Legion Commander
that National Healthcare Program will not endanger VA care.
FORMER VA EXEC LANDS
TOP JOB AT HUMANA VETS' CARE
(08-05-09)
Tim S. McClain, former VA General
Counsel, uses D.C.'s revolving door to replace another former VA
exec as chief of Humana Veterans Healthcare.
VA'S OUTPATIENT FEE
PROGRAM LACKS CONTROLS
(08-04-09)
VAOIG found a 37% error rate in
payments while 80% of payments were not properly justified,
costing VA hundreds of millions.
OBAMA WELCOMES NEW G.I.
BILL
(08-04-09)
"We do this not just to meet our
moral obligation to those who've sacrificed greatly on our
behalf and on behalf of the country. We do it because these men
and women must now be prepared to lead our nation..."
VAOIG FAULTS VA'S
ELECTRONIC CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(08-03-09)
Finds VA cannot achieve the expected
benefits of eCMS because system is not used effectively and
procurement information is incomplete.
THE DISENCHANTED
PATRIOT
(08-03-09)
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland:
"Your VA only wants you to believe the colorful propaganda
produced by the Public Affairs Department."
VETERANS' ORGS
CONCERNED ABOUT OBAMA-CARE
(08-03-09)
Fear veterans could face limited
health care choices, see increased costs and lose dependent
benefits.
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