March 28, 2007
Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031
WASHINGTON, DC
- U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon voted today in favor of the Wounded Warrior
Assistance Act (H.R. 1538) to improve the health care our veterans
receive. This bipartisan bill responds to the problems brought to light
at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health care
facilities by including provisions to: 1) improve the access to quality
medical care for wounded service members who are outpatients at military health
care facilities; 2) begin the process of restoring the integrity and efficiency
of the disability evaluation system and taking other steps to cut bureaucratic
red-tape; and 3) improve the transition of wounded service members from the
Armed Forces to the VA system.
"We owe an enormous debt of
gratitude to our nation's veterans and it is our duty to provide them with the
high-quality health care they deserve," said Rep. Melancon. "I've talked
to many veterans in south Louisiana
who are discouraged and frustrated with the red tape they have to deal with at
the VA. Disabled veterans shouldn't have to wait for months to get the
benefits they more than earned."
Rep. Melancon concluded, "This bill, combined with the funding for
veterans health care we added to the Iraq Supplemental, will be a shot
in the arm for the overwhelmed and underperforming veterans' health care
system."
Last week, Rep. Melancon voted for the $1.7 billion in additional funding
for veterans' health care contained in the Iraq Emergency Supplemental.
The funding will support the health care needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including money for
better mental health care and resources to improve VA health care facilities.
The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act will help our nation's veterans
by:
o Improving the system of case
managers for wounded service members. The
bill improves the training and reduces the caseloads of medical care case
managers for outpatient wounded service members, so that service members and
their families can get the help they need when they need it. For example,
the bill requires that case managers for outpatients handle no more than 17
cases and review each case at least once a week to better understand patient
needs.
o Creating a system of patient
advocates. The bill also creates a
system of patient advocates for outpatient wounded service members. These
advocates are there to fight, when necessary, to ensure that outpatients get
the right treatment. The bill limits patient advocates to a caseload of
no more than 30 outpatients.
o Beginning the process of reforming
the disability evaluation system.
The bill begins the process of reforming administrative processes in order to
restore the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system.
For example, the bill requires DOD to establish a standardized training program
and curriculum for those involved in the disability evaluation system.
o Improving the transition of wounded
service members from the Armed Forces to the VA. Finally, the bill takes some substantive steps in
reducing the turmoil of being transferred from military to veterans' medical
care for service members who are discharged. The bill creates a formal
transition process from the Armed Forces to the VA for service members who are
being retired or separated for health reasons. The transition is to
include an official handoff between the two systems with the electronic
transfer of all medical and personnel records before the member leaves
active-duty.
o Establishing a toll-free hot line. The bill requires DOD to establish a toll-free hot
line for reporting deficiencies in facilities supporting medical patients and
family members, requiring rapid responses to remediate substantiated complaints.
o Establishing independent medical
advocates. The bill also establishes
an independent medical advocate to serve as a counselor and advisor for service
members being considered by medical evaluation boards.
o Calling for improved training. The bill requires DOD to recommend annually improvements
in the training of health care professionals, medical care case managers, and
patient advocates to increase their effectiveness in assisting recovering
wounded warriors. The bill, at a minimum, requires DOD to make
recommendations about improving training in the identification of
post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other mental
conditions among recovering service members.
o Creating an Army Wounded Warrior
Battalion pilot program. The bill
requires the Army to establish an Army Wounded Warrior Battalion pilot program
at an installation with a major medical facility modeled after the Wounded
Warrior Regiment program in the Marines. The unit is intended to track
active-duty soldiers in "outpatient status" who still require medical care.
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