October 15, 2007 Meeting:

This meeting of the Task Force convened at 1600 hours in the Overland Park office of Congressman Dennis Moore. The Chairman opened the meeting with remarks of a general nature concerning the obvious need for Congress and the Administration to not ignore the needs of those who served in the military previously but focus on "getting this right" for today’s military personnel and modern Veterans regarding health care issues. The following is a draft of the discussion points in the meeting:

1.  A question arose from a Task Force member asking if perhaps among other laws that need to be reviewed, if the Family medical Leave Act should be amended to provide spouses of returning OIF/OEF personnel job protection when they have to care for the injured spouse. That recommendation should be discussed and perhaps included in the overall recommendations by the Task Force to Congressman Moore.

2.  A consensus of the group agreed that any comprehensive approach to serving OIF/OEF personnel and Veterans should include all available public and private resources and not be limited to only the DoD and the VA. For example, in rural areas not readily served by DoD MTFs and VA, public health agencies operated by state and local governments could provide services to rural military personnel, especially Guard and Reserves, during recovery from injuries and post-recovery.

3.  Any comprehensive improvements in providing services to OIF/OEF personnel and Veterans needs to include considerations of family needs. In association with such improvements, coordinators will be needed to provide one-on-one and family advice and advocacy, especially in rural areas.

4.  The groups also reached a consensus opinion that every bit of today’s available technology should be put in to play in assisting OIF.OEF personnel and Veterans, whether in the public domain or private sector to enhance the communication and fulfillment of needs for those injured or who are experiencing mental health issues. This technology needs to be put into place today, not planned for the long term future, as the need is immediate.

4.  Following up on the technology issue, the group wants to consider and perhaps recommend that a programmed health services card, either similar to the current military ID or the current VA ID, be examined as an option with which to provide medical information, security of such, and a history of medical treatment to health care and social services providers, whether public or private. The group agrees that both this technology plus that of automated health information (such as the VA’s health records system) can be combined with current technology to provide security, portability, and timely access to health care and social service providers.

5.  Within limits for specialty care, any improvements need to avoid becoming bogged down in typical government bureaucracy that delays treatment and/or medicine. Primary care should be immediately available to avoid critical and life-threatening withholding of medical and mental health services care that can permanently injure a Veteran and family.

6.  The group is of the firm opinion that time is of the essence and that the needs exist now for prompt reform of the current system of diagnosis, treatment, and discharge of active duty, Guard, and Reserve personnel and hand-off to the VA. The expected excuse that a "lame duck" Administration cannot adequately accomplish much-needed reform should not be acceptable by any American who wants the best for those who serve our nation. Further, the DoD and the VA should both embrace the motto of the VA (To Care For Those Who Have Borne The Battle) immediately and throw all resources from all public and private agencies into resolving the health care issues that currently plague those who are serving the nation in OIF and OEF. It is the opinion of the group that notwithstanding the apparent fact that the American people have not been publicly called upon to make sacrifices toward victory in the GWOT, we need to marshal our resources at home to provide the best possible care for injured warriors and their families.

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NOTE: Subsequent to this meeting, the following press release was issued:

VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical: One Exam Used for "Fitness for Duty" and Disability Pay

Opening paragraph: In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both Departments.

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CWVA Chairman Vince Milum (who is an Army veteran) is serving on a nine-member task force for the third (U.S.) congressional district in Kansas. "The primary purpose of the task force is to look at what Congress and the [Bush] Administration are doing for yesterday’s and today’s defenders of freedom [and to give our] thoughts and recommendations about how these actions are affecting Third District residents and how further actions can benefit [third district] residents and families." The task force is chaired by a retired Marine Corps (Brigadier) General. "The Task Force is nonpartisan and [is] autonomous in that its considerations and recommendations [are] up to the members to determine."  

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