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Additional
Information for Million Veteran March
Million Veteran March on Washington DC
June
8, 2005
Discussion Paper
By
Bobby R. Price, LT, USN (Ret.)
Desert Storm Veteran
And
Ms. Karyn Damian
US Army Veteran
April 14, 2005
Preface
This short white paper is being written to
bring to light the deep concern the veteran’s community has
regarding the consistent under funding of the Veterans Affairs
Health Care system. We have carried the message over and over to
veteran’s organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States, Disabled American Veterans, American
Legion, Purple Heart Association and many others. Over the
years, these organizations have been instrumental in gaining
small changes and each year they are required to readdress the
same.
This paper will describe the specific
legislation requirements the veteran’s of this great country
are planning to voice to the government. This will be conveyed
by an organized march on the nation’s capital, Washington DC
on June 8, 2005. It is our intention to insure that the
Congress, Senate and members of the Executive Branch hear us
loud and clear. We
are not going to tolerate the continued under funding of the VA
Health Care system from this day forward. This country owes
veterans of the past, those who are serving now and those who
will serve in the future, the very best of care. We will task
our government to stop balancing the budget on the backs of
veterans.
Each and every one of us made a bet with
the government and the American people. The bet was simple but
carries heavy consequences.
“The bet: We, the American Veteran will
defend this nation from all enemies, foreign or domestic. We
will defend her in peace and in war. We will defend her with our
bodies and our lives. If we should die in the name of our
country, our President and the American people, you the people
have won the bet and after burial rights, a grave marker, a
folded flag, a message on behalf of the President of the United
State and a grateful Nation and minimum compensation to our
families, you are done with your obligation. However, should we
become injured, wounded or suffer from mental anguish as a
result of our service, then your portion of the bet is to care
for us by way of health care and service connected compensation
for as long as we shall live. That care is to be resourced
without fail or debate. Further, should we survive 20 years or
more of service without giving our life; we shall be paid a
percentage of our basic pay for as long as we shall live.
Finally, should we suffer injury and continue to serve 20 or
more years, we shall receive earned pension compensation and
concurrently receive service connected injury compensation.’
Simply, we bet our life and limb for this
nation’s defense. In return, this country bets compensation
and healthcare. We, the veteran, pay with our life and limb.
Once paid, there is no return. What gives this Nation’s
political leaders the right to change their portion of the bet
after we completed our end of the bargain? The nation does not
have that right and we are coming to tell it so. One Million of
us!
This paper is intended to give high level
overview of health care budget issues. Inequity continues with
concurrent receipt however the focus of this action is to
convince our government that it is its responsibility to take
care of our veterans and we are here to see to it that they do.
I do not pretend to cover all the issues associated with
healthcare budgets; however I have provided the information to
the best of my knowledge through discussions with various
agencies, veterans groups and members of Congress. This paper is
not all encompassing and the actions we require of elected
officials may be more in-depth than depicted in this document.
This document is intended to get everyone involved with
correcting these shortcomings in the budgeting process. More so,
get the care our veteran’s deserve. Thank you
Million Veteran March on Washington DC
Every year about this time the
struggle begins on what funding will be sent to the Department of
Veterans Affairs health care system. As with years past, this
years initial budget submitted by the President proposes a “flat
line” budget keeping it same as last year and is roughly $3.4
Billion short based on analysis conducted by an independent agency
commissioned by Veteran Service Organizations such as the Veterans
of Foreign Wars. To
put things into perspective, the health care inflation rate was
approximately 14% therefore even if the shortfalls are recovered;
the budget will remain short by about the same percentage. In
addition, there are proposals included that would change an annual
enrollment fee for those veteran in the VA system who do not have
service connected disabilities, increases in co-pays for office
visits and prescription drugs.
An additional funding cut includes the elimination of per
dium for those veterans in priority categories 5 through 8 who
reside in Federal and State operated veteran’s homes. This loss
represents approximately one third of each home’s operating
budget. What services
will be cut? Who will be turned away? This to is unacceptable.
In
addition to the proposed budget, this year we have elected
officials who have been appointed to the House Veterans Affairs
Committee and as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who for all
intents and purposes have been put there to quiet the voices of
congressional veteran advocates. In addition to the high level
appointments, members of the House VA committee who were known as
veteran advocates have also been unilaterally replaced. This is
sounding the signal that implies persons who have agreed to keep
the party line have been put into place leaving the rest with no
voice. In addition to
these strategic placements, senior and middle management at all VA
facilities including the Veterans Homes have been issued “gag”
orders and are not to comment on the budgets in any capacity.
Next is the movement of the VA Health Care appropriation
line. In the past, the VA budget has been coupled with the VHA/HUD
appropriation. A change this year has the VA budget coupled with
the Department of Defense Active Duty Quality of Life
Appropriation. This creates a condition where if veteran service
organizations and congressional leaders advocate budget plus-ups
for the VA, those funds, if appropriated, would be taken from the
active duty quality of life funding. This violates the very core
of all veteran service organizations and certainly would not set
well with congressional constituents who have members of their
family serving this nation.
Here is the likely outcome of this years budget fight.
Most, if not all, of the $3.4 Billion shortfalls will more than
likely be passed as has happened in the past. As a result, all
involved will high five and pat each other on the back for a job
well done. Problem is it isn’t enough. There remains the health
care inflation rate 14% and the fact that we have thousands of
Soldiers, Sailors Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and National
Guard who are serving in conflicts all over the globe. The most
severe conflicts are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have
young people returning with all sorts of physical injuries who
will require attention. However there is an even larger issue that
hides from our view. We must remember that it has been proven over
and over again that when military personnel are deployed to any
hostile zone and in the best of circumstances return home
uninjured, there has been a change and in many cases a profound
change in the mental state of these young people after the war
experience. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the number one none
physical injury costing our veterans and their families the
quality of life they deserve. This disorder can manifest itself
very quickly or over time. It has been credited with deadly
consequences and much, much more. The total number of veterans is
above 1 million who have already served in combat. That said, we
have thousands returning home to a VA system that continues to be
under funded. Today the system is bursting at the seams and our VA
hospital directors are being tasked to do more with less. This
means that in some cases, doctors are responsible for up to 2000
patients individually and as a result of these numbers, it is
taking 4 to 7 months to get an appointment to see a doctor.
Further, as a result of previous funding shortfalls, over 3600 VA
employees will lose their jobs this year alone exacerbating the
already critical shortage of healthcare professionals within the
system. Dollars available for research has been cut and a
reduction in healthcare facilities have been directed. The
totality of the healthcare requirement resulting from today’s
conflicts has yet to be recognized yet our leaders continue to
under fund. It is time for us to be heard and heard loud and
clear.
There
is a flaw that exists with a law passed by Congress in 1996 which
made veterans without service connected disabilities eligible for
VA healthcare. This essentially made all veterans serving two or
more years and honorably discharged eligible for VA healthcare.
That number is roughly 28 million. This law was enacted based on a
discretionary funding scheme with the caveat that healthcare will
be provided to these veterans as long as the budget will support
it. The budget does not support it and never has. There are
roughly 1.8 million veterans who went into the system based on
this law. Problem with this is those in the system are entitled to
healthcare under the current law. Although priority category 8
veterans are no longer being accepted, the law was reckless when
it was passed as the budget would never support 28 million
veterans. This law requires reforms if mandatory funding of the VA
us ever to be achieved.
Most of us understand that the
US Government could never afford to provide free healthcare to 28
million veterans and understand that the 1996 law should be
revised. However, it is our contention that as a result of that
law and the subsequent acceptance of these veterans along with
those with disabilities, the VA health care system is at capacity
and woefully under funded. This is unacceptable in light of our
returning war veterans who will greatly impact an already
overburdened system. This has resulted in substandard care fore
all who have earned it.
Therefore, we, the Veterans of
the United States of America, do hereby declare that following
items be adopted by our House of Representatives and enacted by
the President of the United States:
1.
Request emergency appropriation as part of the War on
Terror and increase the VA budget baseline from flat line to
levels equal to FY04 healthcare inflation rates (approx 9%)
Rational: Re-baseline the funds needed to bring VA healthcare
resources to the levels required stop personnel reductions and to
re-staff hospitals with doctors, nurses and outreach professionals
in order to alleviate current backlogs
2.
Request emergency appropriation as part of the War on
Terror and increase revised baseline by $3.4 Billion.
Rational: Restoration of funds required for research, outreach
programs, mental heath clinics and continued increase in staff to
meet patient care requirements.
3.
Draft Legislation making VA funding Mandatory vice
Discretionary effective FY07.
Rational: Veteran healthcare is not a negotiating tool. Each year,
the VA is left to do more with less and the victim is the veteran
who deserves better than having his/her earned healthcare benefits
debated on an annual basis.
4.
Base annual mandatory funding increases directly to
Healthcare inflation rates effective FY07 and out.
Rational: Once the budget is properly baselined and mandatory funded
to proper levels, annual increases equal to healthcare inflation
rates will insure proper funding levels based on economical facts.
5.
Grandfather and continue to provide care for those veterans
accepted into the system based on the provisions of the 1996 VA
legislation
Rational: Insures veterans who were accepted into the system under
the 1996 VA Healthcare legislation will retain their healthcare as
agreed.
6.
Immediately establish a commission made up of members of
the veterans service organizations and House leaders to draft
revisions to the 1996 VA Healthcare legislation to more reasonable
criteria effective FY2007
Rational: Although a nice gesture, this law states that anyone
serving on active duty for two years or more and is discharged
under honorable conditions is eligible for healthcare as long as
the VA has funding to support. Requiring VA funding to be
mandatory and this law remaining as written will make fully funded
VA Healthcare unaffordable. Veterans Organizations and elected
leaders should team together and draft agreed to reforms that
serve both the veterans who have earned their healthcare through
service and the tax payer who pays the bill.
7.
Withdraw legislation requiring annual registration fees and
increases in co-pay items
Rational: Not necessary to burden our veterans any more financially.
Most of these people are low income (at or below $25K per annum)
8.
Continue VA Veteran Home per dium rates for all residents
no matter what the priority category.
Rational: Severely impacts the operating budgets of the Veterans
Homes.
It is our request that the
above legislative actions be made an immediate priority with VA
funding re-baselining to occur under an emergency appropriation
action in order to provide relief for a seriously over burdened
and under funded VA system. These appropriations are required as
part of the Global War on Terrorism and therefore should be
appropriated.
As veterans, we have been
fairly tolerant and silent as our government continues to erode
those benefits promised to us in return for our service. Each and
every one of us has kept our part of the bargain and now it is
time for the government to do the same. We shall be heard and
heard loud and clear. Our comrades in need shall not be treated as
second class to anyone. Our returning warriors will not be left to
fend for themselves. Our VA healthcare professionals will be given
the resources they need to provide quality care to those who have
given so much. Not since 1932 have veterans been driven to the
point of taking our message directly to the grounds of our great
capitol so that finally we will be heard. We do not ask for
anything not deserved. We demand that our VA system be resourced
to care for a fallen hero’s. They are winning the war and it is
up to us to remember they have done so.
I will close by saying that
“Better is the enemy of good enough.” In this action we ask
that “good enough” be provided and we are a long ways from
there. See you in DC!
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