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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With Congressman David Wu's support, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. This legislation responds to the unacceptable living conditions and bureaucratic hassles soldiers have been experiencing at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health care facilities around the country.
"Our current system is failing many of the wounded soldiers returning from Iraq," said Congressman Wu. "It is unacceptable that the medical treatment and services they have so courageously earned have fallen short. Poor medical treatment of our soldiers not only adds to the difficultly of returning to civilian life, but it may discourage others from serving and lead to a serious national security concern. Those who serve should be able to count on their country when they come home."
H.R. 1538 provides the resources and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded soldiers receive quality health care and experience a seamless transition from active duty service to Department of Veterans' Affairs programs. One area of particular concern is the medical treatment for soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, known as TBI.
Many have called TBI the "signature injury" of the Iraq war. According to officials at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, TBI affects more than 25 percent of soldiers who are bomb-blast survivors.* H.R. 1538 ensures that TBI victims receive a proper medical diagnosis as opposed to the current medical designation which assigns a generic "organic psychiatric disorder" classification.
Relevant research to better treat TBI is being done at Oregon Health and Science University. The Food and Drug Administration, under fast-track status, has approved clinical trials in the U.S. which OHSU hopes to begin this summer or early fall.
One professor involved in this research is Dr. Stanely Jacob of OHSU's Department of Surgery. He is a retired Army Colonel who served in Korea and as a physician and researcher at the Graduate School of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
"Unless the appropriate specialist provides a clear diagnosis, one risks missing the mark and heading down a wrong path of treatment," said Dr. Stanely Jacob. "Additionally, there remains a substantial need for better treatment of TBI. There has not been a major FDA approved pharmacological advance in the treatment of TBI for several decades. The research being done at OHSU and with its partners to discover the best treatment, paired with a more precise diagnosis, will be of immense help to our soldiers who suffer from brain injuries in Iraq."
The following is an overview of the other key provisions of the bill.
Improves 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.
Creates 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.
Establishes 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 address substantiated complaints.
Establishes 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.
Calls 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.
Creates 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.
Begins 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.
Improves 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.
*Newsweek, 3/17/2006
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