Column: Improving Health Care for Our Veterans

Press Release

Column: Improving Health Care for Our Veterans

Not all the wounds suffered by our soldiers are physical. Nearly 300,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) have been seen by the VA Health Care system, and over 40 percent of these individuals were diagnosed with a mental health condition. Separating from military service can be a very difficult transition. Mental and physical wounds make it even more difficult for veterans to adjust to their "new normal."

The journey home for many veterans is longer than just taking off the uniform. We owe it to the new heroes coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq to make sure that the stigma of mental injuries does not prevent them from seeking care and that the care is available when they need it.

As Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee, I have been working with my fellow committee members to improve the health care provided to our veterans. Last year, much of our subcommittee's work was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. Those efforts resulted in an increased focus on mental health care for our veterans, rural outreach, and the treatment and diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We also worked hard to pass legislation that promoted a seamless transition of medical records, care managers and better coordination between the military and the VA.

This year, our subcommittee is taking a hard look at a variety of mental health issues, including family assistance, substance abuse and homelessness.

On February 28th, the Health Subcommittee held a hearing called: "Mental Health Treatment for Families: Supporting Those Who Support our Veterans." We heard from families who believed that they would have benefited from mental health care both while their loved one was deployed and when their loved one returned home. We also heard from veteran service organizations and experts who support this belief. Because immediate family members are often the primary care givers for veterans, providing mental health treatment to them will help to improve their health, strengthen the family, and ultimately improve the health of the veteran. We are now developing legislation to give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the necessary authority to provide appropriate mental health care to the immediate family members of veterans.

In addition, we will be holding several more hearings in the coming months, including hearings on the treatment of substance abuse and co-morbid conditions, women veterans, rural and special populations within the VHA system, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment and research. It is my hope that these hearings can help develop some real solutions to the challenges facing our veterans and their families.

In Maine, I am pleased that progress is being made on the veterans health care access point in Houlton, Maine. Soon, a VA doctor will begin working one day a week at the Houlton Regional Hospital in order to serve veterans in the area. We have a large population of veterans in Maine spread throughout the state, and it is crucial that they have access to quality health care. Right now, some Maine veterans have to travel many hours to receive care. By locating health care access points and community based outpatient clinics throughout the state, we can begin to address this issue. The VA locating this doctor in Houlton is certainly a step in the right direction.

There are also new challenges nationwide that we must address. According to the January 2008 VA report "Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans," 48,661 OEF/OIF veterans have met criteria for substance use disorder. This number only reflects veterans who have been seen by the Veterans Health Administration, which means that the total number of veterans with substance use disorder is likely higher.

To address this issue, Congressman Jeff Miller, our subcommittee's Ranking Member, and I are introducing the "Veterans Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008." The legislation will require the VA to provide the full continuum of care for substance use disorder, and it will require this full spectrum of care to be available at every VA medical center. As we continue to hear reports about the growing number of OEF/OIF veterans with drug and alcohol problems related to their combat exposure, it is imperative for VA to have robust and accessible programs for at-risk veterans. This legislation will help us get there.

Over 5.8 million veterans receive care in the VA Health Care System. We also have a new generation of veterans entering the system. Every one of these heroes deserves the best possible care available and access to it in a timely faNot all the wounds suffered by our soldiers are physical. Nearly 300,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) have been seen by the VA Health Care system, and over 40 percent of these individuals were diagnosed with a mental health condition. Separating from military service can be a very difficult transition. Mental and physical wounds make it even more difficult for veterans to adjust to their "new normal."

The journey home for many veterans is longer than just taking off the uniform. We owe it to the new heroes coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq to make sure that the stigma of mental injuries does not prevent them from seeking care and that the care is available when they need it.

As Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee, I have been working with my fellow committee members to improve the health care provided to our veterans. Last year, much of our subcommittee's work was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. Those efforts resulted in an increased focus on mental health care for our veterans, rural outreach, and the treatment and diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We also worked hard to pass legislation that promoted a seamless transition of medical records, care managers and better coordination between the military and the VA.

This year, our subcommittee is taking a hard look at a variety of mental health issues, including family assistance, substance abuse and homelessness.

On February 28th, the Health Subcommittee held a hearing called: "Mental Health Treatment for Families: Supporting Those Who Support our Veterans." We heard from families who believed that they would have benefited from mental health care both while their loved one was deployed and when their loved one returned home. We also heard from veteran service organizations and experts who support this belief. Because immediate family members are often the primary care givers for veterans, providing mental health treatment to them will help to improve their health, strengthen the family, and ultimately improve the health of the veteran. We are now developing legislation to give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the necessary authority to provide appropriate mental health care to the immediate family members of veterans.

In addition, we will be holding several more hearings in the coming months, including hearings on the treatment of substance abuse and co-morbid conditions, women veterans, rural and special populations within the VHA system, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment and research. It is my hope that these hearings can help develop some real solutions to the challenges facing our veterans and their families.

In Maine, I am pleased that progress is being made on the veterans health care access point in Houlton, Maine. Soon, a VA doctor will begin working one day a week at the Houlton Regional Hospital in order to serve veterans in the area. We have a large population of veterans in Maine spread throughout the state, and it is crucial that they have access to quality health care. Right now, some Maine veterans have to travel many hours to receive care. By locating health care access points and community based outpatient clinics throughout the state, we can begin to address this issue. The VA locating this doctor in Houlton is certainly a step in the right direction.

There are also new challenges nationwide that we must address. According to the January 2008 VA report "Health Care Utilization Among US Global War on Terrorism Veterans," 48,661 OEF/OIF veterans have met criteria for substance use disorder. This number only reflects veterans who have been seen by the Veterans Health Administration, which means that the total number of veterans with substance use disorder is likely higher.

To address this issue, Congressman Jeff Miller, our subcommittee's Ranking Member, and I are introducing the "Veterans Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008." The legislation will require the VA to provide the full continuum of care for substance use disorder, and it will require this full spectrum of care to be available at every VA medical center. As we continue to hear reports about the growing number of OEF/OIF veterans with drug and alcohol problems related to their combat exposure, it is imperative for VA to have robust and accessible programs for at-risk veterans. This legislation will help us get there.

Over 5.8 million veterans receive care in the VA Health Care System. We also have a new generation of veterans entering the system. Every one of these heroes deserves the best possible care available and access to it in a timely fashion. My colleagues and I on the Veterans' Affairs Committee will continue this fight in the coming year. 2007 was a year of positive change but we have a lot more work to do.shion. My colleagues and I on the Veterans' Affairs Committee will continue this fight in the coming year. 2007 was a year of positive change but we have a lot more work to do.

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