{"id":119598,"date":"2014-06-12T21:51:41","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T03:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/veterans-waiting-weeks-for-care\/"},"modified":"2014-06-12T21:51:41","modified_gmt":"2014-06-13T03:51:41","slug":"veterans-waiting-weeks-for-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/veterans-waiting-weeks-for-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans waiting weeks for care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

From Cortez, the nearest Veterans Integrated Service Network is 275 miles away in Albuquerque. There, new patients needing primary care wait an average of 46 days.<\/p>\n

According to a Department of Veterans Affairs internal audit released on Monday, June 9, new patients seeking primary care at the Albuquerque VA hospital wait more than six weeks on average.<\/p>\n

It can take nearly two months for new patients seeking specialty care in Albuquerque, and new patients needing mental health treatment wait an average of 38 days before seeing a physician.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a failure of leadership,\u201d said Montezuma County Veteran Service Officer Rick Torres of the wait times.<\/p>\n

Torres was quick to point out the problems within the VA health system date back decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not just an Obama thing,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is not just a Bush thing, and not just a Clinton thing. They all have to take responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the recent VA audit, three of the region\u2019s VA hospitals, which serve Montezuma County veterans, required further review for suspected willful misconduct.<\/p>\n

Torres said he didn\u2019t blame former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki for the systemic problems associated with VA health care, but he was glad to see him resign on May 30.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the military, if a commander is not cutting it: they go,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The VA\u2019s internal audit also revealed more than 57,000 veterans across the country wait more than 90 days to get a first appointment. An additional 64,000 may have never received an appointment at all despite enrolling and requesting one.<\/p>\n

On Monday, Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said he was \u201coutraged\u201d by the findings, stating many veterans were \u201cexperiencing ridiculous wait times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is deeply troubling that ailing vets have been forced to wait so long to receive the care they were promised,\u201d said Tipton.<\/p>\n

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., agreed, saying he would continue to lobby for changes within the VA to ensure veterans receive the care and services they\u2019ve earned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe VA must do better, and soon,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cIt needs to be more responsive, more transparent and more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, also said Monday he would co-sponsor a bipartisan proposal from U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to reform the VA, expand veterans\u2019 access to health care and make it easier to fire employees for mismanagement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was frustrated when partisan obstruction blocked a VA-reform bill earlier this year, but Congress has another chance now to take concrete steps that address the systemic failures that have been identified in the VA system,\u201d Udall said.<\/p>\n

Late Wednesday, Udall announced the Veterans Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 was passed to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n

To help combat the problem, Torres encouraged all area veterans to join either the Veterans of Foreign War or American Legion. Both organizations serve as advocates for veterans issues when addressing politicians in Denver and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least join one of these organizations,\u201d said Torres. \u201cThe numbers matter when folks are trying to get voted back in office. Make sure your voice is heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torres explained Montezuma County veterans fall under the auspices of the Albuquerque VA hospital. He said area veterans were also able to see VA physicians in Durango, which is currently experiencing a two week waiting period for new patients, or in Farmington, where new patients could expect a six week wait.<\/p>\n

A potential remedy for veterans needing immediate treatment for the flu, for example, Torres said veterans could always opt to seek emergency room treatment. He then warned service members that the VA would not cover an ER visit unless it was life or death situation.<\/p>\n

Another option for veterans was to switch their VA hospital service to Grand Junction, 227 miles away from Cortez. Torres warned local veterans who switch hospitals outside of the Albuquerque jurisdiction could risk not receiving travel expenses.<\/p>\n

The VA hospital in Grand Junction reported new patients must wait more than seven weeks on average for primary care, but the average wait time for specialty care was only 38 days.<\/p>\n

In a press release, VA officials said they have already taken corrective action to address issues resulting from the audit, including the May 21st launch of the Accelerating Access to Care Initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is our duty and our privilege to provide veterans the care they have earned through their service and sacrifice,\u201d said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson. \u201cAs the President has said, as Secretary Shinseki said, and as I stated plainly last week, we must work together to fix the unacceptable, systemic problems in accessing VA health care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Approximately 2,400 veterans currently reside in Montezuma County. Nearly $60,000 in total health care benefits is awarded monthly to local veterans.<\/p>\n

tbaker@cortezjournal.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Bill would ease ER costs<\/h4>\n

HONOLULU \u2014 A new bill has been introduced in Congress that aims to offer relief to veterans that have had to pay for emergency health services.
\n Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas co-sponsored the bill on Thursday.
\n The proposal would eliminate a rule that prevents veterans from being reimbursed for emergency care if they haven\u2019t been seen in a VA center for 24 months.
\n The bill, called the Veterans Emergency Health Safety Net Expansion Act, would impact an estimated 144,000 veterans. It also would prevent insurance companies from denying or limiting reimbursements based on the fact that the VA is not an in-network provider.
\n Under current law, veterans who have not been seen at a VA hospital in 24 months have to pay out of pocket if they receive emergency health care, and they are not reimbursed by the VA. This bill would shift that cost burden, which is estimated at $98 million in 2015 and $1.1 billion over 10 years, to the VA.
\n The Associated Press<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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