washingtonscene
and individual service actions that have Witnesses from the two agencies then
cut funding and staffi ng at military hos- discussed their new joint programs de-
pitals and clinics. signed to improve the process.
Ranking member John McHugh (R- “I am educated, resourceful, and tena-
N.Y.) said he was disappointed DoD’s bud- cious, but I was totally lost,” said North
get request included these fee hikes and Carolina National Guard spouse Jackie
voiced his intention to oppose them. McMichael, who has a master’s degree
“I must say that I am surprised that the in counseling. McMichael said her hus-
[DoD Task Force on the Future of Military band’s war-caused physical and psycho-
Health Care] not only recommended simi- logical injuries resulted in breakdowns,
lar fee increases but added an enrollment job losses, fi nancial hardships, and
fee of $120 for TRICARE For Life benefi - family estrangement.
ciaries,” McHugh said. Spouses and parents need to know
He went on to say the place to start fi x- whom to call and what signs to look
ing cost problems is not on the backs of ben- for that might indicate problems in the
efi ciaries, especially during wartime. post-deployment months, she said. “You
Pentagon witness Dr. S. Ward Cass- cannot take one player off the team and
cells, assistant secretary of defense for train [him or her] and expect to win the
Health Affairs, agreed the goal should championship,” said McMichael. “You
not be focused on raising fees to push must train the entire team.”
benefi ciaries to leave the TRICARE Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he
system. He also said it was important understood problems still exist with inad-
to maintain a healthy patient volume in equate services, defi ciencies in coordina-
military treatment facilities to ensure a tion, and lack of early intervention.
high level of provider competence. “The VA doesn’t see the human face
When asked how he would build the mil- behind the patients they are treating,”
itary health system if he could start fresh, said Burr.
Casscells said that a new DoD health care “Their idea of help was to send me
group will focus specifi cally on that ques- the link to a brain injury Web site,” said
tion. MOAA will push to have benefi ciary Robert Verbeke, whose son, Daniel, still
groups involved in the discussions. is unable to eat or drink as a result of his
wounds but now speaks a few words.
Wounded Care
Verbeke thinks the system needs to focus
more on care than cost.
Isn’t Fixed
Change and collaborative efforts are
underway, according Dr. Lynda Davis,
Panel gets an earful from
the Navy’s deputy assistant secretary
warriors’ families.
for Military Personnel, and Kristin Day,
the VA’s chief consultant for case man-
agement and social work. Davis and
M
OAA was present at a Sen- Day lead a joint DoD/VA task force on
ate Veterans Affairs Committee recovery case management.
hearing March 11 during which In addition to improved tracking
family members of wounded personnel through treatment, recovery, rehabilita-
testifi ed about continuing ineffi ciencies, tion, and community reintegration, they
inadequate communication, and an over- said a web-based National Resource Di-
all lack of coordinated support between rectory outlining medical and non-medi-
DoD and the VA. cal services and a joint VA/DoD handbook
3 4 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 8
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