Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 10-16-08

1. Peake Says Dole’s Hefner VAMC Concerns Will Be Reviewed.
2. VA Awards Contracts For Cemeteries In Alabama, Nebraska.  
3. VA Clinic Relocating In Alabama.  
4. Ford Donates Vehicle To AVAHCS.  
5. VA Reignites Disabled Vet’s Interest In Bowling.  
6. VA Announces Formation Of New Health Care System In Texas.  
7. VA Co-Sponsors Stand Down Event In Louisiana.  
8. Louisiana Governor Signals Support For Guardsmen, Reservists.  
9. Texas Program Seeks To Help Vets With Their Job Searches.  
10. Columnist Urges Change In Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. 

HAVE YOU HEARD?
Many veterans with diabetes are getting initial screening for possible eye disease during their VA primary care appointments, thanks to a national tele-retinal imaging program now in place at a majority of VA hospitals and clinics. This procedure, which screens patients for diabetic retinopathy, does not take the place of a dilated eye exam. Veterans with known retinopathy or laser treatment will be seen in eye clinics, along with high risk patients such as those with pregnancy or renal disease. However, the new procedure is a good initial way to identify patients at risk for visual loss from diabetes. Patients are scheduled for the imaging through the computerized patient record system. The images taken of the retina at the clinics are sent to an image reading center, where an eye care specialist determines the need for further testing. VA collaborated with the DoD and the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston to set up the technology for the program’s digital retinal imaging and remote image interpretation. Diabetes is one target of a major VA program designed to reduce the high rates of illness caused by obesity. Called MOVE — for “Managing Overweight Veterans Everywhere” — it encourages veterans to increase their physical activity and improve their nutrition. Further information is available at www.move.va.gov. VA reports that one of every five VA patients has diabetes and early detection of retinal abnormalities is essential in preventing vision loss from diabetes.

1.      Peake Says Dole’s Hefner VAMC Concerns Will Be Reviewed.   The Salisbury (NC) Post (10/16) reports, "Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake said Wednesday he has asked his staff to ‘review and consider’ concerns raised" by US Sen. Elizabeth Dole about planned changes at the Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Peake "made the statement in a letter to Dole, responding to her Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 letters to him. He said his staff is to provide him with the results of that review no later than Nov. 15, which would be 11 days after the Nov. 4 election." It is "unclear whether any changes are actually being postponed because Carolyn L. Adams, director of the Hefner VA, said at an Oct. 10 news conference there is no timeline for the planned elimination of inpatient, emergency and medical services.

2.      VA Awards Contracts For Cemeteries In Alabama, Nebraska.   WVTM-TV Birmingham, AL (10/15, 4:38 p.m. CT) broadcast, "A contract for a veterans cemetery in Shelby County has been awarded to Birmingham-based Civil Consultants Incorporated." The Department of Veterans Affairs "awarded the $1.3 million contract for the cemetery in Montevallo." WTVY-TV Dothan, AL (10/15, 12:07 p.m. CT) broadcast a similar story, while the AP (10/15) reported that VA Secretary James Peake "says the contract brings the VA closer to making the cemetery a reality." The AP added that the "project is scheduled for completion this winter."
      The Chadron (NE) News (10/16, Rempp) reports, "Military veterans in the Panhandle could have a regional cemetery as early as 2010 now that funding has been secured" for the facility. The "High Plains Veterans Cemetery near Alliance will receive a nearly $5 million grant" from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The grant "was awarded to the State of Nebraska" recently to construct the cemetery. In a press release noting the grant VA Secretary Dr, James Peake said, "A new state veterans cemetery in western Nebraska will greatly expand the opportunity for veterans to be buried in a place that commemorates their sacrifice."

3.      VA Clinic Relocating In Alabama.   WDHN-TV Dothan, AL (10/15, 6:17 p.m. CT) broadcast that "over 13,000 veterans in the Wiregrass…will have a new place to call home" when a new Veterans Affairs building opens on November 3rd. The VA "will be leaving their building on Crawford and moving next to the Farm Center on Ross Clark Circle. The reason for the move — they needed more space."

4.      Ford Donates Vehicle To AVAHCS.   KAMR-TV Amarillo, TX (10/15, 6:15 p.m. CT) broadcast that Ford "is trying to make a difference with area vets." The car company recently "donated a seven-passenger Taurus" to the Amarillo Veterans Affairs Health Care System. 

5.      VA Reignites Disabled Vet’s Interest In Bowling.   The Salisbury (NC) Post (10/16, Chaffin) profiled 63-year-old veteran Kathleen Ryan, an avid bowler who "was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 50." Confined "to a wheelchair three years later," Ryan "gave up the recreational sport altogether." But that "all changed six years ago when she discovered" that the Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center "offered bowling lanes with special ramps for people in wheelchairs." The Post adds, "In August, Ryan joined veterans from across the country participating in the 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games in Indianapolis, Ind. She entered only two competitions – bowling and horseshoes – and won gold medals in both." Ryan "hopes to recruit other veterans at the Hefner VA for next year’s games."

6.      VA Announces Formation Of New Health Care System In Texas.   The McAllen (TX) Monitor (10/16, McEver) reports, "The Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi and Laredo soon will split off from a San Antonio-based veterans health-care system, officials confirmed Wednesday." By "2011, the tentatively named Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System will oversee veterans clinics in the Valley and other parts of South Texas, taking over from South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs officials told veterans at a briefing at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen." Meanwhile, VA officials "are still making progress on plans to upgrade veterans facilities in Harlingen and McAllen, and are close to finalizing contracts with local hospitals to provide inpatient services to veterans, they said."
      Local Service Options Soon To Expand For Laredo Vets.   The KGNS-TV Harlingen, TX (10/15) website reported, "Back in 2007, the Rio Grande Valley got its good news when the 120,000 square foot South Texas VA Health Care Center at Harlingen opened its doors." And now, VA representatives "say by the beginning of 2009," Laredo veterans will be offered similar services at a local hospital. KGNS added that currently, such services are only available to Laredo veterans if they travel to San Antonio.

7.      VA Co-Sponsors Stand Down Event In Louisiana.   On its website, KALB-TV Alexandria, LA (10/15) reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs spent Wednesday "reaching out to the homeless community" during the "5th annual Homeless Stand Down in Alexandria." The event, which "provides services like medical and dental screenings," is sponsored by the VA, "the city of Alexandria and the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition."

8.      Louisiana Governor Signals Support For Guardsmen, Reservists.   The Alexandria (LA) Town Talk (10/16, Bonnette) reports Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal "signed…the Five Star Statement of Support for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve" on Tuesday. The signing, attended by Lane Carson, "head of Veterans Affairs for Louisiana," was "in recognition of a Department of Defense organization that provides free education, counseling and employment services for those serving in the Guard and military reserves. By putting his name on the document, Jindal said he was committing…to support state employees who are guardsmen and reservists."

9.      Texas Program Seeks To Help Vets With Their Job Searches.   The Seguin (TX) Gazette-Enterprise (10/15, Sanders) reported the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) "is offering the Texas Veterans Leadership Program for military personnel to help them translate field skills into workplace success." The "$2.25 million" initiative "focuses on" Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

10.    Columnist Urges Change In Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.   In a letter to the syndicated "Sgt. Shaft" column, appearing in the Washington Times (10/16, Fales), a disabled Vietnam era veteran named Stephen Brady says that after the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to pay emergency room bills he incurred after a 2007 car accident, he contacted US Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) for help. Brady says he then received assistance on medical bills he incurred after getting treated at a private facility in Illinois. Those bills were also related to the 2007 accident, and Brady says he promised the facility he would give them money if he "ever got any medical payment from the VA." In response to the letter, "Sgt. Shaft" points out that the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act prevents VA from making a payment to Brady. So, "Sgt. Shaft" urges "the VA and veterans affairs committees to correct" the law’s "ambiguous language" and free up the VA to make such a payment.