VA Testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health

2008 (110th Congress, Second Session)

• Gerald Cross, MD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before a House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing, to to present the Administration's views on two bills, H.R. 3051, the "Heroes at Home Act of 2007," and H.R. 6153, the "Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2008."
  
  

• Joleen Clark, Chief Officer, Workforce Management and Consulting, Department of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss "Human Resources Challenges" within the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration.
  
  

• Brian Stiller, Center Director Togus VA Medical Center, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, to discuss the care and services which the Department of Veterans Affairs provide to veterans in Maine.
  
  

• Antoinette Zeiss, Ph.D., Associate Chief Consultant, Office of Mental Health Services, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health Hearing, to discuss the ongoing steps that the Department of Veterans Affairs is taking to treat substance abuse and co-morbid disorders.
  
  

• Donald Orndoff, Director, Office of Construction and Facilities Management, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, to discuss the Department of Veteran Affairs' draft bill to request authorization for six major medical construction projects and twelve major medical facility leases, as well as addressing other issues related to the Department's construction program.
  
  

• Gerald Cross, MD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, to present the Administration's views on eight bills that would affect Department of Veterans Affairs programs that provide veteran health care benefits and services.
  
  

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2007 (110th Congress, First Session)

• Gerald Cross, MD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health and Oversight and Investigations hearing, to discuss the issue of outpatient waiting times.
  
  

• William Feeley, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration recruitment and retention program for health care professionals.
  
  

• Joel Kupersmith, MD, Chief Research and Development Officer, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetic research program.
  
  

• Pete Dougherty, Director, Homeless Veterans Programs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs' Grant and Per Diem program.
  
  

• Lawrence Deyton, MD, Chief Public Health and Environmental Hazards Officer, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss VA's response to the health care and other needs of veterans who have served in combat in Southwest Asia.
  
  

• Patricia Vandenberg, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Planning, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss the strategic direction and plan for the future of long term care in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  
  

• Gerald Cross, MD, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss ongoing efforts in the Veterans Health Administration to provide safe, effective, efficient and compassionate health care to veterans residing in rural areas.
  
  

• Barbara Sigford, MD, PhD, National Program Director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss the Veterans Health Administration's seamless transition process from the perspective of the Polytrauma System of Care.
  
  

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2006 (109th Congress, Second Session)

• Gerald Cross, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans Subcommittee on Health, to discuss ongoing efforts in the Veterans Health Administration to improve the quality of care we provide to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
  
  

• Jonathan Perlin, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss ongoing efforts in the Veterans Health Administration to provide safe, effective, efficient and compassionate health care to veterans residing in rural areas.
  
  

• Michael Kussman, MD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to provide an overview of the Veterans Health Administration data management and security procedures in place to ensure the safety and integrity of veterans' electronic health records, and to safeguard sensitive personal veteran information from internal and external security threats.
  
  

• Jonathan Perlin, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
  
  

• Jonathan Perlin, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the President's 2007 budget proposal for the Veterans Health Administration.
  
  

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2005 (109th Congress, First Session)

• Tim S. McClain, General Counsel and Chief Management Officer, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health field Hearing, to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs' valued partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina.
  
  

• Jeannette Chirico-Post, M.D., Network Director, VISN 1, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health field hearing, to discuss "Rural Veterans' Access to Primary Care: Successes and Challenges."
  
  
• John Sims, Togus VA Medical Center, before a House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health field hearing, regarding Rural Veterans' Access to Primary Care in Maine.
  
  

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2004 (108th Congress, Second Session)

• Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES).
  
  

• Lawrence Biro, Director, VA Rocky Mountain Healthcare Network, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the potential sharing agreement with DoD on the Fitzsimons campus.
  
  

• Ricardo Randle, Director, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office, Hartford, Connecticut, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss OneVA sharing opportunities between the Hartford VA Regional Office and the Newington Campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
  
  
• Roger Johnson, Director, Connecticut VA Healthcare System, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss mproving health care services to veterans in the State of Connecticut.
  
  
• Richard A. Sapp, Jr., Military Services Coordinator, Fort Drum, NY, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) team at Fort Drum assists the Connecticut National Guard and other troops during the demobilization process.
  
  
• Fred S. Wright, MD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss health care facilities and opportunities for improving health care for veterans in the State of Connecticut.
  
  
• Jeannette Chirico-Post, MD, Network Director, VA New England Healthcare System, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss mproving health care services to veterans in the State of Connecticut.
  
  

• Gordon H. Mansfield, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to present the Department's views on several bills and a draft bill pertaining primarily to veteran's health care and related administrative matters.
  
  
• Marsha Tansey Four, Chair, Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding H.R. 3849, the Military Sexual Trauma Counseling Act of 2004, a bill which would permanently authorize VA's program to provide counseling services and care for sexual trauma.
  
  
• Robert Van Keuren, Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding H.R. 4248, the Homeless Veterans Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2004, a bill which would extend VA's authority to carry out the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.
  
  

• Jose Coronado, Director, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding veterans' health care in the Texas Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17) Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17).
  
  

• Jonathan Perlin, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' Transitional Pharmacy Benefit Program.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the care of veterans who may be suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a consequence of their exposure to the hardships of deployment and the rigors of combat.
  
  

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2003 (108th Congress, First Session)

• Robert Roswell, M.D., Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding legislative proposals that will greatly enhance VA's ability to recruit and retain the highest quality physicians, dentists, and nurses to care for the Nation's veterans.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Administration's views.
  
  

• Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the process that produced VA's Draft National CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) Plan.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Administration's views on H.R. 1585, a bill to establish an office to oversee research compliance and assurance within the Veterans Health Administration.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, to discuss construction needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and VA's views.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding VA's long-term care programs and issues related to the GAO report " VA Long-Term Care: Service Gaps and Facility Restrictions Limit Veterans' Access to Non institutional Care".
  
  

• Dr. Leo S. MacKay, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding VA's programs and services for homeless veterans.
  
  
• Ned L. Cooney, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the Newington Campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the daily challenge of promoting recovery for homeless veterans with substance use disorders.
  
  

• Nelda P. Wray, MD, MPH, Chief Research and Development Officer, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetic research program.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding PL 107-287 and VA-DoD efforts to coordinate force protection in the active duty military.
  
  

• Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding whether VA should provide veterans with pharmaceuticals prescribed by physicians or other health-care professionals who have no affiliation with VA.
  
  

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2002 (107th Congress, Second Session)

• Jonathan B. Perlin, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Benefits Administration, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services to veterans who participated in biological and chemical agents testing conducted by the U.S. Army's Deseret Test Center. These tests, known as Project 112, included Project SHAD.
  
  

• Margaret Seaver, MD, Medical Director, Women Veterans Health Center, VA Boston Health Care System, Under Secretary of Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of women veterans health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was also provided by VACO officials and field witnesses.
  
  
• Robert Roswell, MD, Under Secretary of Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of women veterans health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was also provided by VACO officials and field witnesses.
  
  
• Irene Trowell-Harris, RN, EdD, Director, Center for Women Veterans, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of women veterans health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was also provided by VACO officials and field witnesses.
  
  
• Carole L. Turner, RN, MN, Director, Women Veterans Health Program, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of women veterans health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was also provided by VACO officials and field witnesses.
  
  
• Mary Antoinette (Toni) Lawrie, RN, Manager, Women Veterans Program, Bay Pines VAMC, Florida and VISN 8 Lead Women Veterans Program Manager, Under Secretary of Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of women veterans health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was also provided by VACO officials and field witnesses.
  
  

• Stephen Klotz, MD, Staff Physician, VA Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the managerial structure in the VA.
  
  
• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding actions taken to correct environmental concerns at the Kansas City VAMC.
  
  
• Kent D. Hill, Director, Kansas City VAMC, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding specific plans and accomplishments in correcting the environmental deficiencies at the Kansas City VAMC.
  
  
• Sharon A. Grewe, Patient Advocate, Kansas City VA Medical Center, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Kansas City VAMC.
  
  

• Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding health care for Filipino veterans.
  
  

• Mark Catlett, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding H.R. 4514 entitled, the "Veterans' Major Medical Facilities Construction Act of 2002."
  
  

• Dr. Leo S. MacKay, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding H.R. 3254, the "Medical Education for National Defense in the 21st Century Act" and H.R. 3253, the "National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001."
  
  

• Dr. Leo S. MacKay, Jr., Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the status of coordinating health care resources between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD).
  
  

• Frances Murphy, MD, MPH, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding changes in VA health care and benefits assistance for veterans based upon ten years of experience helping Gulf War veterans.
  
  

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2001 (107th Congress, First Session)

• Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding H. R. 2792, the "Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health Care Improvement Act of 2001.''
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding health services for veterans across a continuum of care, from intensive inpatient mental health units for acutely ill persons to residential care settings, outpatient clinics, Day Hospital and Day Treatment programs, and intensive community care management programs.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding VA-DOD Health Care Sharing.
  
  

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2000 (106th Congress, Second Session)

• Frances Murphy, MD, MPH, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Veterans Health Administration's policy on provision of chiropractic services for veterans.
  
  

• Edward A. Powell, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Chief Financial Officer, before a hearing of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs pharmaceutical procurement policy and issues regarding a pilot project to authorize the Special Agents Mutual Benefit Association access to the Federal Supply Schedule for pharmaceuticals.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding VA-DOD Health Care Sharing.
  
  

• Kenneth Clark, Chief Network Officer of the Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the recruitment, retention, and compensation of health care professionals and to present the Department's views on HR 1216 and HR 2660.
  
  

• Frances Murphy, MD, MPH, Acting Deputy Under Secretary For Policy And Management, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Veterans Health Administration's planning, budgeting and management of capital assets.
  
  

• Henrietta Fishman, DCSW, CASAC, Service Line Manager, VISN 3 Homeless Veterans Treatment Programs, before a hearing of the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Benefits of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, regarding homelessness among veterans and the VA's efforts to address homeless veterans' needs.
  
  
• Frances Murphy, MD, MPH, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Management, before a hearing of the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Benefits of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, regarding homelessness among veterans and the VA's efforts to address homeless veterans' needs.
  
  
• Estella Morris, Program Manager, VA Comprehensive Homeless Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, before a hearing of the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Benefits of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, regarding homelessness among veterans and the VA's efforts to address homeless veterans' needs.
  
  

• Frances Murphy, MD, MPH, Acting Deputy Under Secretary For Policy And Management, Veterans Health Administration, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding GAO's recent report concerning management of chemical and biological medical supplies.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Acting Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health and the House Commerce Subcommittees on Health and Environment, and Oversight and Investigations, regarding the VA Patient Safety Program.
  
  
• Audrey L Nelson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health and House Commerce Subcommittees on Health and Environment, and Oversight and Investigations, regarding VA innovation to support patient safety.
  
  

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1999 (106th Congress, First Session)

• Frances M. Murphy, MD, MPH, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittees on Health, and Oversight & Investigations regarding the possible health effects of the drug pyridostigmine bromide (PB) on veterans who served in the Gulf War.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Acting Under Secretary for Health. Before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' experience in implementing patient enrollment under Public Law 104-262.
  
  

• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health, before a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health Hearing regarding the Veterans Millennium Health Care Act and Long-Term Care Planning.
  
  

• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health. Before a House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing regarding long term care provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and VHA's current strategy for developing potential solutions to the growing demand for long term care by veterans.
  
  

• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health. Before a joint House Veterans Affairs Health and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing regarding issues related to the recent suspension of research at the Greater Los Angeles Health Care System (GLAHS), and oversight of VA's research program.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Deputy Under Secretary for Health. Before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the Veterans Health Administration's planning, budgeting and management of capital assets.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Deputy Under Secretary for Health. Before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, regarding the President's budget for veterans medical care for Fiscal Year 2000.
  
  

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1998 (105th Congress, Second Session)

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Deputy Under Secretary for Health. Before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, on maintaining capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans.
  
  

• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health, before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding the future of the veterans healthcare system.
  
  

• Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs. Before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health regarding VA's sexual trauma counseling program; a bill to expand authority for special eligibility for health care currently provided to Gulf War veterans to all combat veterans; and to establish a national center for the study of war-related illnesses.
  
  

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1997 (105th Congress, First Session)

• Dr. Elwood Headly, Director, Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the death of a patient.
  
  
• Billy M. Valentine, Director, Muskogee Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the death of a patient at a construction site on 05/24/1996.
  
  
• Dr. John H. Mather, Assistant Inspector General. Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the Veterans Health Administration's Risk Management Program and its Office of Medical Inspector.
  
  
• T. C. Doherty, Director, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the Veterans Health Administration's ( VHA ) policy and performance relating to specific patient incidents.
  
  

• Dennis H. Smith, Director, VA Maryland Health Care System. Before the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the VA's treatment facility integrations strategy.
  
  
• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health. Before the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the VA's treatment facility integrations strategy.
  
  
• Christopher F. Terrence, MD, Director, VA Chicago Health Care System. Before the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the VA's treatment facility integrations strategy.
  
  
• James A. Goff, FACHE, Director, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Before the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the VA's treatment facility integrations strategy.
  
  
• Joan E. Cummings, MD, Network Director, Veterans Integrated Service Network 12. Before the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the VA's treatment facility integrations strategy.
  
  

• Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, Under Secretary for Health. Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding VA's medical management of Persian War veterans having difficult to diagnose or ill-defined conditions.
  
  

• Robert H. Roswell, MD, Statement to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health regarding VA's new Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) process.
  
  

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