Government and Regulations

A report, cosigned by nearly half the Commission on Care, that called for the closure of all VHA facilities and the transfer of patients to private care drew immediate criticism from Veterans Service Organizations, media outlets, and the VA. The Proposed Strawman Assessment and Recommendations report asserted that “the current VA health care system is seriously broken, and because of the breadth and depth of the shortfalls, there is no efficient path to repair it.” The report called for immediate closure of “obsolete and underutilized facilities” and the eventual transfer of all VA patients to local providers within the next 2 decades.

“This would be a terrible mistake, a terrible direction for veterans and for the country, to essentially systematically implement recommendations that would lead to the end of the VA health care system,” Dr. David Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health, told Military Update.

Representatives of 8 Veterans Service Organizations also strongly objected to the report in a letter to Nancy Schlichting, the commission’s chairperson. “We are confident that any objective, unbiased analysis of all the relevant data and evidence about the VA health care system compared to private sector health care will demonstrate the benefits of maintaining and strengthening a dedicated veterans’ health care system.”

The letter, signed by representatives from Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, took issue with the report’s contention that the VA was too broken to repair: “This provocative statement, repeated in different forms several times throughout the 34-page document, is not backed up by any evidence or data to sustain such a broad and unequivocal condemnation.”

Mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, the 15-member Commission on Care is charged with providing recommendations for reforming veterans’ health care before July 1, 2016. In an open letter, Schlichting admitted that the report was designed to be provocative. “As the term strawman implies, the document was created by a subset of Commissioners to describe their personal ideas, which ultimately facilitated and focused public discussion and prompted new proposals,” Schlichting noted. “It represents options on a range of possibilities the Commissioners are evaluating as they work toward a consensus decision on their recommendations.”

In addition to concerns that center on the private health care industry’s willingness to recreate the unique veteran-centric programs that are currently offered by the VA, some critics have drawn attention to 7 members of the commission with ties to private industry and conservative politics. Even before the actual release of the report, The American Legion was critical of the Commission members “many of whom are medical industry executives,” which raised “conflict-of-interest concerns when those promoting privatization stand to gain financially if that becomes VA’s future.” American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett argued that “the proposal lacks any real understanding of the complexities of VA and serves primarily to set up the private industry to benefit.”

A report, cosigned by nearly half the Commission on Care, that called for the closure of all VHA facilities and the transfer of patients to private care drew immediate criticism from Veterans Service Organizations, media outlets, and the VA. The Proposed Strawman Assessment and Recommendations report asserted that “the current VA health care system is seriously broken, and because of the breadth and depth of the shortfalls, there is no efficient path to repair it.” The report called for immediate closure of “obsolete and underutilized facilities” and the eventual transfer of all VA patients to local providers within the next 2 decades.

“This would be a terrible mistake, a terrible direction for veterans and for the country, to essentially systematically implement recommendations that would lead to the end of the VA health care system,” Dr. David Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health, told Military Update.

Representatives of 8 Veterans Service Organizations also strongly objected to the report in a letter to Nancy Schlichting, the commission’s chairperson. “We are confident that any objective, unbiased analysis of all the relevant data and evidence about the VA health care system compared to private sector health care will demonstrate the benefits of maintaining and strengthening a dedicated veterans’ health care system.”

The letter, signed by representatives from Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, took issue with the report’s contention that the VA was too broken to repair: “This provocative statement, repeated in different forms several times throughout the 34-page document, is not backed up by any evidence or data to sustain such a broad and unequivocal condemnation.”

Mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, the 15-member Commission on Care is charged with providing recommendations for reforming veterans’ health care before July 1, 2016. In an open letter, Schlichting admitted that the report was designed to be provocative. “As the term strawman implies, the document was created by a subset of Commissioners to describe their personal ideas, which ultimately facilitated and focused public discussion and prompted new proposals,” Schlichting noted. “It represents options on a range of possibilities the Commissioners are evaluating as they work toward a consensus decision on their recommendations.”

In addition to concerns that center on the private health care industry’s willingness to recreate the unique veteran-centric programs that are currently offered by the VA, some critics have drawn attention to 7 members of the commission with ties to private industry and conservative politics. Even before the actual release of the report, The American Legion was critical of the Commission members “many of whom are medical industry executives,” which raised “conflict-of-interest concerns when those promoting privatization stand to gain financially if that becomes VA’s future.” American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett argued that “the proposal lacks any real understanding of the complexities of VA and serves primarily to set up the private industry to benefit.”

A report, cosigned by nearly half the Commission on Care, that called for the closure of all VHA facilities and the transfer of patients to private care drew immediate criticism from Veterans Service Organizations, media outlets, and the VA. The Proposed Strawman Assessment and Recommendations report asserted that “the current VA health care system is seriously broken, and because of the breadth and depth of the shortfalls, there is no efficient path to repair it.” The report called for immediate closure of “obsolete and underutilized facilities” and the eventual transfer of all VA patients to local providers within the next 2 decades.

“This would be a terrible mistake, a terrible direction for veterans and for the country, to essentially systematically implement recommendations that would lead to the end of the VA health care system,” Dr. David Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health, told Military Update.

Representatives of 8 Veterans Service Organizations also strongly objected to the report in a letter to Nancy Schlichting, the commission’s chairperson. “We are confident that any objective, unbiased analysis of all the relevant data and evidence about the VA health care system compared to private sector health care will demonstrate the benefits of maintaining and strengthening a dedicated veterans’ health care system.”

The letter, signed by representatives from Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, took issue with the report’s contention that the VA was too broken to repair: “This provocative statement, repeated in different forms several times throughout the 34-page document, is not backed up by any evidence or data to sustain such a broad and unequivocal condemnation.”

Mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, the 15-member Commission on Care is charged with providing recommendations for reforming veterans’ health care before July 1, 2016. In an open letter, Schlichting admitted that the report was designed to be provocative. “As the term strawman implies, the document was created by a subset of Commissioners to describe their personal ideas, which ultimately facilitated and focused public discussion and prompted new proposals,” Schlichting noted. “It represents options on a range of possibilities the Commissioners are evaluating as they work toward a consensus decision on their recommendations.”

In addition to concerns that center on the private health care industry’s willingness to recreate the unique veteran-centric programs that are currently offered by the VA, some critics have drawn attention to 7 members of the commission with ties to private industry and conservative politics. Even before the actual release of the report, The American Legion was critical of the Commission members “many of whom are medical industry executives,” which raised “conflict-of-interest concerns when those promoting privatization stand to gain financially if that becomes VA’s future.” American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett argued that “the proposal lacks any real understanding of the complexities of VA and serves primarily to set up the private industry to benefit.”

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects an estimated 79 million U.S. adults, and ≥ 30,000 HPV-related cancers occur each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Native American women living in the Northern Plains and Midwest are twice as likely as the national average to report HPV infection. In some regions, American Indians are 4 times more likely to get cervical cancer, the most common HPV-related cancer.

While vaccination rates are higher among American Indian youth than other groups, rates for the HPV vaccine remain low: Only 39% of females and 26% of males have had all 3 doses.

Studies have shown the vaccine prevents strains of HPV that lead to 70% of HPV-related cancers in men and women, such as oropharyngeal, penile, cervical, and vaginal, the CDC reported. But there are still misconceptions about HPV that help keep vaccination rates low, says Delf Schmidt-Grimminger, a senior scientist with the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota and the Avera Cancer Institute, in an article for Native Health News Alliance. One misconception is that boys do not need the vaccination; however, both boys and girls should be vaccinated to eradicate the disease. Preteens are the targeted group because the vaccine is most effective when given before individuals become sexually active. The vaccines are available and free for most American Indian children at any clinic.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects an estimated 79 million U.S. adults, and ≥ 30,000 HPV-related cancers occur each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Native American women living in the Northern Plains and Midwest are twice as likely as the national average to report HPV infection. In some regions, American Indians are 4 times more likely to get cervical cancer, the most common HPV-related cancer.

While vaccination rates are higher among American Indian youth than other groups, rates for the HPV vaccine remain low: Only 39% of females and 26% of males have had all 3 doses.

Studies have shown the vaccine prevents strains of HPV that lead to 70% of HPV-related cancers in men and women, such as oropharyngeal, penile, cervical, and vaginal, the CDC reported. But there are still misconceptions about HPV that help keep vaccination rates low, says Delf Schmidt-Grimminger, a senior scientist with the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota and the Avera Cancer Institute, in an article for Native Health News Alliance. One misconception is that boys do not need the vaccination; however, both boys and girls should be vaccinated to eradicate the disease. Preteens are the targeted group because the vaccine is most effective when given before individuals become sexually active. The vaccines are available and free for most American Indian children at any clinic.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects an estimated 79 million U.S. adults, and ≥ 30,000 HPV-related cancers occur each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Native American women living in the Northern Plains and Midwest are twice as likely as the national average to report HPV infection. In some regions, American Indians are 4 times more likely to get cervical cancer, the most common HPV-related cancer.

While vaccination rates are higher among American Indian youth than other groups, rates for the HPV vaccine remain low: Only 39% of females and 26% of males have had all 3 doses.

Studies have shown the vaccine prevents strains of HPV that lead to 70% of HPV-related cancers in men and women, such as oropharyngeal, penile, cervical, and vaginal, the CDC reported. But there are still misconceptions about HPV that help keep vaccination rates low, says Delf Schmidt-Grimminger, a senior scientist with the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota and the Avera Cancer Institute, in an article for Native Health News Alliance. One misconception is that boys do not need the vaccination; however, both boys and girls should be vaccinated to eradicate the disease. Preteens are the targeted group because the vaccine is most effective when given before individuals become sexually active. The vaccines are available and free for most American Indian children at any clinic.

“Every day, approximately 22 veterans take their lives, and that is too many,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin, announcing new steps the VA is taking to reduce suicides. The announcement follows “Preventing Veteran Suicide,” a “Call to Action” summit that brought together nearly 200 mental health professionals, caregivers, veterans and their families, veteran service organizations, members of Congress, and experts from other federal agencies. Although the February 2 summit was in Washington, DC, thousands joined in via Twitter. In fact, #PreventVetSuicide was a Twitter trending topic for the day and the top trending hashtag in ≥ 10 US cities.

The summit was pulled together “in record time,” Shulkin said—30 days from conception to execution. “The reason for the urgency was because this is truly urgent, and when there is a crisis, it is important to act as if there is a crisis.”

The summit introduced several policy shifts and new initiatives, which included:

• Providing additional resources to the VA’s Suicide Prevention Program that allow it to manage and strengthen current programs and initiatives;
• Offering same-day evaluations and access to veterans by the end of 2016;
• Using measures of veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental health treatments to individual needs;
•  Using predictive models, as well as data on suicide attempts and drug overdoses, to guide prevention strategies;
•  Increasing availability of naloxone rescue kits; and
•   Establishing 3 regional telemental health hubs.

The VA also is launching a study, “Coming Home from Afghanistan and Iraq,” that examines the impact of deployment and combat on mental health and well-being, and will continue to partner with the DoD on suicide prevention and other efforts for a seamless transition from military service to civilian life.

“Every day, approximately 22 veterans take their lives, and that is too many,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin, announcing new steps the VA is taking to reduce suicides. The announcement follows “Preventing Veteran Suicide,” a “Call to Action” summit that brought together nearly 200 mental health professionals, caregivers, veterans and their families, veteran service organizations, members of Congress, and experts from other federal agencies. Although the February 2 summit was in Washington, DC, thousands joined in via Twitter. In fact, #PreventVetSuicide was a Twitter trending topic for the day and the top trending hashtag in ≥ 10 US cities.

The summit was pulled together “in record time,” Shulkin said—30 days from conception to execution. “The reason for the urgency was because this is truly urgent, and when there is a crisis, it is important to act as if there is a crisis.”

The summit introduced several policy shifts and new initiatives, which included:

• Providing additional resources to the VA’s Suicide Prevention Program that allow it to manage and strengthen current programs and initiatives;
• Offering same-day evaluations and access to veterans by the end of 2016;
• Using measures of veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental health treatments to individual needs;
•  Using predictive models, as well as data on suicide attempts and drug overdoses, to guide prevention strategies;
•  Increasing availability of naloxone rescue kits; and
•   Establishing 3 regional telemental health hubs.

The VA also is launching a study, “Coming Home from Afghanistan and Iraq,” that examines the impact of deployment and combat on mental health and well-being, and will continue to partner with the DoD on suicide prevention and other efforts for a seamless transition from military service to civilian life.

“Every day, approximately 22 veterans take their lives, and that is too many,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin, announcing new steps the VA is taking to reduce suicides. The announcement follows “Preventing Veteran Suicide,” a “Call to Action” summit that brought together nearly 200 mental health professionals, caregivers, veterans and their families, veteran service organizations, members of Congress, and experts from other federal agencies. Although the February 2 summit was in Washington, DC, thousands joined in via Twitter. In fact, #PreventVetSuicide was a Twitter trending topic for the day and the top trending hashtag in ≥ 10 US cities.

The summit was pulled together “in record time,” Shulkin said—30 days from conception to execution. “The reason for the urgency was because this is truly urgent, and when there is a crisis, it is important to act as if there is a crisis.”

The summit introduced several policy shifts and new initiatives, which included:

• Providing additional resources to the VA’s Suicide Prevention Program that allow it to manage and strengthen current programs and initiatives;
• Offering same-day evaluations and access to veterans by the end of 2016;
• Using measures of veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental health treatments to individual needs;
•  Using predictive models, as well as data on suicide attempts and drug overdoses, to guide prevention strategies;
•  Increasing availability of naloxone rescue kits; and
•   Establishing 3 regional telemental health hubs.

The VA also is launching a study, “Coming Home from Afghanistan and Iraq,” that examines the impact of deployment and combat on mental health and well-being, and will continue to partner with the DoD on suicide prevention and other efforts for a seamless transition from military service to civilian life.

On Monday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) announced a new plan that aims to improve veterans’ access to healthcare. Titled Care Veterans Deserve, McCain’s plan mixes immediate actions with long term plans designed to address systemic issues within the VA.

“This plan offers a path towards better care for our veterans by proposing solutions to immediate problems now, as well as longer-term legislative efforts to provide our veterans greater flexibility and more options in care well into the future,” said Sen. McCain in a statement.

If implemented, Care Veterans Deserve offers short-term solutions that include expanding VA hours to evenings and weekends for qualified local health care providers to care for veterans. To ensure that the VA can provide pharmacy services comparable to retail locations, McCain’s plan extends VA pharmacy hours to 8 pm on weekdays and keeps these locations open on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays. Additionally, all veterans eligible for VA health care would be able to visit walk-in clinics without pre-authorization or copayment.

The plan also includes other structural changes for VA healthcare providers. For example, McCain proposes to decentralize and change the VA pay structure to help retain top physicians. In a more unusual proposal, the senator also calls for “peer-review from the best providers in health care, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and others” for Arizona’s VA hospitals. The plan also calls for changes in “the culture at the VA so that it proactively partners with–rather than avoids–local medical specialists and veterans groups on suicide prevention.”

The plan also proposes long-term solutions designed to improve access to healthcare proposed by center on the VA Choice Card program. "The question remains: Is the VA getting better?'" said Sen. McCain. "Veterans who try to access the Choice Card complain they have to wait hours on hold with the VA call center just to reach someone knowledgeable about the program."

The plan would significantly expand the VA Choice Card program, which is currently about halfway through a 3 year pilot program. Legislation introduced by McCain in August 2015, the Permanent VA Choice Card Act, extends the reach of the Choice Card program by making it a permanent policy and ensures all veterans, regardless of location, are eligible to receive a Choice Card. The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Veterans affairs on August 5, 2015, where it remains today. According to McCain, passing the Permanent VA Choice Card Act would provide all eligible veterans with the flexibility to see the doctor of their choice and minimize wait-time.

“It has been a long, frustrating 2 years since the tragic and avoidable scandal first broke of veterans at the Phoenix VA dying while waiting for appointments on non-existent waitlists,” said McCain. “I am proud of the bipartisan VA reform bill I led, particularly when it comes to the VA Choice Card, and of my work passing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevent for American Veterans Act, which is now law. But, implementing these reforms has been too slow, and veterans are still not receiving the care they deserve. Our veterans should not have to wait for the same VA bureaucrats who caused these problems in the first place to finally ‘get it’ and start implementing reform. Our moral obligation to our veterans requires decisive action now.”

On Monday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) announced a new plan that aims to improve veterans’ access to healthcare. Titled Care Veterans Deserve, McCain’s plan mixes immediate actions with long term plans designed to address systemic issues within the VA.

“This plan offers a path towards better care for our veterans by proposing solutions to immediate problems now, as well as longer-term legislative efforts to provide our veterans greater flexibility and more options in care well into the future,” said Sen. McCain in a statement.

If implemented, Care Veterans Deserve offers short-term solutions that include expanding VA hours to evenings and weekends for qualified local health care providers to care for veterans. To ensure that the VA can provide pharmacy services comparable to retail locations, McCain’s plan extends VA pharmacy hours to 8 pm on weekdays and keeps these locations open on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays. Additionally, all veterans eligible for VA health care would be able to visit walk-in clinics without pre-authorization or copayment.

The plan also includes other structural changes for VA healthcare providers. For example, McCain proposes to decentralize and change the VA pay structure to help retain top physicians. In a more unusual proposal, the senator also calls for “peer-review from the best providers in health care, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and others” for Arizona’s VA hospitals. The plan also calls for changes in “the culture at the VA so that it proactively partners with–rather than avoids–local medical specialists and veterans groups on suicide prevention.”

The plan also proposes long-term solutions designed to improve access to healthcare proposed by center on the VA Choice Card program. "The question remains: Is the VA getting better?'" said Sen. McCain. "Veterans who try to access the Choice Card complain they have to wait hours on hold with the VA call center just to reach someone knowledgeable about the program."

The plan would significantly expand the VA Choice Card program, which is currently about halfway through a 3 year pilot program. Legislation introduced by McCain in August 2015, the Permanent VA Choice Card Act, extends the reach of the Choice Card program by making it a permanent policy and ensures all veterans, regardless of location, are eligible to receive a Choice Card. The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Veterans affairs on August 5, 2015, where it remains today. According to McCain, passing the Permanent VA Choice Card Act would provide all eligible veterans with the flexibility to see the doctor of their choice and minimize wait-time.

“It has been a long, frustrating 2 years since the tragic and avoidable scandal first broke of veterans at the Phoenix VA dying while waiting for appointments on non-existent waitlists,” said McCain. “I am proud of the bipartisan VA reform bill I led, particularly when it comes to the VA Choice Card, and of my work passing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevent for American Veterans Act, which is now law. But, implementing these reforms has been too slow, and veterans are still not receiving the care they deserve. Our veterans should not have to wait for the same VA bureaucrats who caused these problems in the first place to finally ‘get it’ and start implementing reform. Our moral obligation to our veterans requires decisive action now.”

On Monday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) announced a new plan that aims to improve veterans’ access to healthcare. Titled Care Veterans Deserve, McCain’s plan mixes immediate actions with long term plans designed to address systemic issues within the VA.

“This plan offers a path towards better care for our veterans by proposing solutions to immediate problems now, as well as longer-term legislative efforts to provide our veterans greater flexibility and more options in care well into the future,” said Sen. McCain in a statement.

If implemented, Care Veterans Deserve offers short-term solutions that include expanding VA hours to evenings and weekends for qualified local health care providers to care for veterans. To ensure that the VA can provide pharmacy services comparable to retail locations, McCain’s plan extends VA pharmacy hours to 8 pm on weekdays and keeps these locations open on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays. Additionally, all veterans eligible for VA health care would be able to visit walk-in clinics without pre-authorization or copayment.

The plan also includes other structural changes for VA healthcare providers. For example, McCain proposes to decentralize and change the VA pay structure to help retain top physicians. In a more unusual proposal, the senator also calls for “peer-review from the best providers in health care, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and others” for Arizona’s VA hospitals. The plan also calls for changes in “the culture at the VA so that it proactively partners with–rather than avoids–local medical specialists and veterans groups on suicide prevention.”

The plan also proposes long-term solutions designed to improve access to healthcare proposed by center on the VA Choice Card program. "The question remains: Is the VA getting better?'" said Sen. McCain. "Veterans who try to access the Choice Card complain they have to wait hours on hold with the VA call center just to reach someone knowledgeable about the program."

The plan would significantly expand the VA Choice Card program, which is currently about halfway through a 3 year pilot program. Legislation introduced by McCain in August 2015, the Permanent VA Choice Card Act, extends the reach of the Choice Card program by making it a permanent policy and ensures all veterans, regardless of location, are eligible to receive a Choice Card. The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Veterans affairs on August 5, 2015, where it remains today. According to McCain, passing the Permanent VA Choice Card Act would provide all eligible veterans with the flexibility to see the doctor of their choice and minimize wait-time.

“It has been a long, frustrating 2 years since the tragic and avoidable scandal first broke of veterans at the Phoenix VA dying while waiting for appointments on non-existent waitlists,” said McCain. “I am proud of the bipartisan VA reform bill I led, particularly when it comes to the VA Choice Card, and of my work passing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevent for American Veterans Act, which is now law. But, implementing these reforms has been too slow, and veterans are still not receiving the care they deserve. Our veterans should not have to wait for the same VA bureaucrats who caused these problems in the first place to finally ‘get it’ and start implementing reform. Our moral obligation to our veterans requires decisive action now.”

“No one is excused from prediabetes.” That is why the CDC, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are launching the first national public service advertising campaign about prediabetes.

More than 1 in 3 Americans has blood glucose levels high enough to qualify for prediabetes, but an estimated 90% don’t know it. Current trends suggest that if untreated, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. However, the CDC suggests weight loss, diet changes, and increased physical activity can help cut risk by 58%.

Public service announcements in English and Spanish encourage people to take a short test at www.DoIHavePrediabetes.org or in real time through interactive, “first of its kind,” TV and radio PSAs. People can also take the test and receive support and lifestyle tips via text messages. The ADA, AMA, and CDC are also working through local offices, affiliates, and partners to promote the campaign, with resources for health care providers to aid in screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

“No one is excused from prediabetes.” That is why the CDC, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are launching the first national public service advertising campaign about prediabetes.

More than 1 in 3 Americans has blood glucose levels high enough to qualify for prediabetes, but an estimated 90% don’t know it. Current trends suggest that if untreated, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. However, the CDC suggests weight loss, diet changes, and increased physical activity can help cut risk by 58%.

Public service announcements in English and Spanish encourage people to take a short test at www.DoIHavePrediabetes.org or in real time through interactive, “first of its kind,” TV and radio PSAs. People can also take the test and receive support and lifestyle tips via text messages. The ADA, AMA, and CDC are also working through local offices, affiliates, and partners to promote the campaign, with resources for health care providers to aid in screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

“No one is excused from prediabetes.” That is why the CDC, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are launching the first national public service advertising campaign about prediabetes.

More than 1 in 3 Americans has blood glucose levels high enough to qualify for prediabetes, but an estimated 90% don’t know it. Current trends suggest that if untreated, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. However, the CDC suggests weight loss, diet changes, and increased physical activity can help cut risk by 58%.

Public service announcements in English and Spanish encourage people to take a short test at www.DoIHavePrediabetes.org or in real time through interactive, “first of its kind,” TV and radio PSAs. People can also take the test and receive support and lifestyle tips via text messages. The ADA, AMA, and CDC are also working through local offices, affiliates, and partners to promote the campaign, with resources for health care providers to aid in screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

According to the DoD’s 2014 Suicide Event Report, 20 active-duty members per 100,000 committed suicide in 2014, along with 22 reserve and 19 U.S. National Guard members.

The suicides include 269 deaths among active-duty members, compared with 259 deaths by suicide in 2013. There were 169 deaths by suicide among the selected reserve members, compared with 220 deaths in 2013.

The 2014 suicide rates for reserve members and active-duty members of the 4 services were largely similar to those of 2013 with 2 notable exceptions: reductions in the rate for the National Guard, Air Force and Army combined, and reductions in the rate for the Army National Guard.

As of March 31, 2015, the report also documents 1,067 service members with 1 reported suicide attempt and 29 service members with 2 or more reported attempts. Five suicides were associated with 1 or more suicide attempt in 2013 or 2014. The median number of days between the most recent suicide attempt and the reported suicide was 108. The largest demographic differences between suicide and suicide attempt were in the prevalence of females (27% for suicide attempts vs 6% for suicides) and rank status (69% E1-E4 for suicide attempts vs 43% for suicides).

Most often, the suicide was committed by a white man, aged < 30 years, a high school graduate, enlisted, and married. The most frequently cited psychosocial stressors were failed relationships and administrative/legal issues.

According to the DoD’s 2014 Suicide Event Report, 20 active-duty members per 100,000 committed suicide in 2014, along with 22 reserve and 19 U.S. National Guard members.

The suicides include 269 deaths among active-duty members, compared with 259 deaths by suicide in 2013. There were 169 deaths by suicide among the selected reserve members, compared with 220 deaths in 2013.

The 2014 suicide rates for reserve members and active-duty members of the 4 services were largely similar to those of 2013 with 2 notable exceptions: reductions in the rate for the National Guard, Air Force and Army combined, and reductions in the rate for the Army National Guard.

As of March 31, 2015, the report also documents 1,067 service members with 1 reported suicide attempt and 29 service members with 2 or more reported attempts. Five suicides were associated with 1 or more suicide attempt in 2013 or 2014. The median number of days between the most recent suicide attempt and the reported suicide was 108. The largest demographic differences between suicide and suicide attempt were in the prevalence of females (27% for suicide attempts vs 6% for suicides) and rank status (69% E1-E4 for suicide attempts vs 43% for suicides).

Most often, the suicide was committed by a white man, aged < 30 years, a high school graduate, enlisted, and married. The most frequently cited psychosocial stressors were failed relationships and administrative/legal issues.

According to the DoD’s 2014 Suicide Event Report, 20 active-duty members per 100,000 committed suicide in 2014, along with 22 reserve and 19 U.S. National Guard members.

The suicides include 269 deaths among active-duty members, compared with 259 deaths by suicide in 2013. There were 169 deaths by suicide among the selected reserve members, compared with 220 deaths in 2013.

The 2014 suicide rates for reserve members and active-duty members of the 4 services were largely similar to those of 2013 with 2 notable exceptions: reductions in the rate for the National Guard, Air Force and Army combined, and reductions in the rate for the Army National Guard.

As of March 31, 2015, the report also documents 1,067 service members with 1 reported suicide attempt and 29 service members with 2 or more reported attempts. Five suicides were associated with 1 or more suicide attempt in 2013 or 2014. The median number of days between the most recent suicide attempt and the reported suicide was 108. The largest demographic differences between suicide and suicide attempt were in the prevalence of females (27% for suicide attempts vs 6% for suicides) and rank status (69% E1-E4 for suicide attempts vs 43% for suicides).

Most often, the suicide was committed by a white man, aged < 30 years, a high school graduate, enlisted, and married. The most frequently cited psychosocial stressors were failed relationships and administrative/legal issues.

Just after the end of World War II, an “understaffed” VA formed a unique partnership with the nation’s medical and health professional schools, just in time to meet the challenges posed by the arrival of 100,000 new patients. That partnership—a “shared honor and a shared responsibility”—is 70 years old this year.

During the historic collaboration, 70% of all U.S. physicians have received training at the VA, and 70% of physicians in VA teaching facilities have faculty appointments. By 1980, more than 70 VA hospitals were located within 5 miles of a medical school. The VA has become the largest single provider of medical training in the country: More than 40,000 residents and 20,000 medical students receive clinical training each year, says Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Through its academic affiliations, the VA has been home to 3 Nobel Prize winners.

“VA benefits enormously from its relationship with its partners in the medical academic community,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. “We have the benefit of the top medical professionals being produced by leading academic institutions. In turn, the medical community and patients around the country benefit from VA innovations—innovations such as the implantable cardiac pacemaker, the nicotine patch…, liver transplants, and electronic medical records. We are both proud and grateful for these relationships.”

Just after the end of World War II, an “understaffed” VA formed a unique partnership with the nation’s medical and health professional schools, just in time to meet the challenges posed by the arrival of 100,000 new patients. That partnership—a “shared honor and a shared responsibility”—is 70 years old this year.

During the historic collaboration, 70% of all U.S. physicians have received training at the VA, and 70% of physicians in VA teaching facilities have faculty appointments. By 1980, more than 70 VA hospitals were located within 5 miles of a medical school. The VA has become the largest single provider of medical training in the country: More than 40,000 residents and 20,000 medical students receive clinical training each year, says Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Through its academic affiliations, the VA has been home to 3 Nobel Prize winners.

“VA benefits enormously from its relationship with its partners in the medical academic community,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. “We have the benefit of the top medical professionals being produced by leading academic institutions. In turn, the medical community and patients around the country benefit from VA innovations—innovations such as the implantable cardiac pacemaker, the nicotine patch…, liver transplants, and electronic medical records. We are both proud and grateful for these relationships.”

Just after the end of World War II, an “understaffed” VA formed a unique partnership with the nation’s medical and health professional schools, just in time to meet the challenges posed by the arrival of 100,000 new patients. That partnership—a “shared honor and a shared responsibility”—is 70 years old this year.

During the historic collaboration, 70% of all U.S. physicians have received training at the VA, and 70% of physicians in VA teaching facilities have faculty appointments. By 1980, more than 70 VA hospitals were located within 5 miles of a medical school. The VA has become the largest single provider of medical training in the country: More than 40,000 residents and 20,000 medical students receive clinical training each year, says Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Through its academic affiliations, the VA has been home to 3 Nobel Prize winners.

“VA benefits enormously from its relationship with its partners in the medical academic community,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. “We have the benefit of the top medical professionals being produced by leading academic institutions. In turn, the medical community and patients around the country benefit from VA innovations—innovations such as the implantable cardiac pacemaker, the nicotine patch…, liver transplants, and electronic medical records. We are both proud and grateful for these relationships.”

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a $81.6 billion funding bill to cover a broad range of VA and DoD health care needs. Following a period of tight budgets, the proposed bill increases spending by $1.8 billion, but it is $1.2 billion below the budget request from President Obama. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides $260 million for upgrading the VA electronic health record system (EHR) and $304 million for construction and alterations for new or existing military medical facilities.

The house bill earmarks $52.5 billion for VA health care services, including $7.8 billion for mental health care services; $164 million for suicide prevention activities; $284 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $7.2 billion for homeless veterans treatment, services, housing, and job training; and $250 million for rural health initiatives. 

Although the bill provides funding to improve the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system, the bill also includes language that restricts that funding until the VA has certified interoperability of the system with the DoD. The bill also requires the VA to meet certain milestones with respect to functionality and management. Still how fast the VA will move on the VistA upgrade remains to be seen. LaVerne Council, VA chief information officer told a March 2, 2016 House appropriations committee that the VA will “take a step back and look at what we really need to have an EHR and a health care system do.”

The development of a new DoD EHR system is progressing, according to Chris Miller, program executive officer, Defense Healthcare Management Systems. In a Senate hearing, he told committee members that the DoD has made significant progress and is not rolling out the Joint Legacy Viewer, which “provides an integrated display of DoD, VA, and TRICARE network provider data for clinicians and other users.”

Miller told the committee that predeployment testing of the new EHR is nearing completion, and the system will undergo contractor testing through December 2016. “The new EHR represents a fundamental business transformation within DoD, and the bulk of our work moving forward is making sure our end-users and the DoD community as a whole are prepared to begin using this system once it comes online.”

The Surgeon Generals of the Air Force, Army, and Navy also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to Lieutenant General Mark A. Ediger, Air Force Surgeon General Veterans Choice Act led to decline in referrals to military facilities. In addition, all 3 Surgeons General expressed frustration with the continuing high rates of tobacco used among active-duty service members and the lack of success of tobacco cessation efforts.

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a $81.6 billion funding bill to cover a broad range of VA and DoD health care needs. Following a period of tight budgets, the proposed bill increases spending by $1.8 billion, but it is $1.2 billion below the budget request from President Obama. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides $260 million for upgrading the VA electronic health record system (EHR) and $304 million for construction and alterations for new or existing military medical facilities.

The house bill earmarks $52.5 billion for VA health care services, including $7.8 billion for mental health care services; $164 million for suicide prevention activities; $284 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $7.2 billion for homeless veterans treatment, services, housing, and job training; and $250 million for rural health initiatives. 

Although the bill provides funding to improve the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system, the bill also includes language that restricts that funding until the VA has certified interoperability of the system with the DoD. The bill also requires the VA to meet certain milestones with respect to functionality and management. Still how fast the VA will move on the VistA upgrade remains to be seen. LaVerne Council, VA chief information officer told a March 2, 2016 House appropriations committee that the VA will “take a step back and look at what we really need to have an EHR and a health care system do.”

The development of a new DoD EHR system is progressing, according to Chris Miller, program executive officer, Defense Healthcare Management Systems. In a Senate hearing, he told committee members that the DoD has made significant progress and is not rolling out the Joint Legacy Viewer, which “provides an integrated display of DoD, VA, and TRICARE network provider data for clinicians and other users.”

Miller told the committee that predeployment testing of the new EHR is nearing completion, and the system will undergo contractor testing through December 2016. “The new EHR represents a fundamental business transformation within DoD, and the bulk of our work moving forward is making sure our end-users and the DoD community as a whole are prepared to begin using this system once it comes online.”

The Surgeon Generals of the Air Force, Army, and Navy also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to Lieutenant General Mark A. Ediger, Air Force Surgeon General Veterans Choice Act led to decline in referrals to military facilities. In addition, all 3 Surgeons General expressed frustration with the continuing high rates of tobacco used among active-duty service members and the lack of success of tobacco cessation efforts.

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a $81.6 billion funding bill to cover a broad range of VA and DoD health care needs. Following a period of tight budgets, the proposed bill increases spending by $1.8 billion, but it is $1.2 billion below the budget request from President Obama. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides $260 million for upgrading the VA electronic health record system (EHR) and $304 million for construction and alterations for new or existing military medical facilities.

The house bill earmarks $52.5 billion for VA health care services, including $7.8 billion for mental health care services; $164 million for suicide prevention activities; $284 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $7.2 billion for homeless veterans treatment, services, housing, and job training; and $250 million for rural health initiatives. 

Although the bill provides funding to improve the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system, the bill also includes language that restricts that funding until the VA has certified interoperability of the system with the DoD. The bill also requires the VA to meet certain milestones with respect to functionality and management. Still how fast the VA will move on the VistA upgrade remains to be seen. LaVerne Council, VA chief information officer told a March 2, 2016 House appropriations committee that the VA will “take a step back and look at what we really need to have an EHR and a health care system do.”

The development of a new DoD EHR system is progressing, according to Chris Miller, program executive officer, Defense Healthcare Management Systems. In a Senate hearing, he told committee members that the DoD has made significant progress and is not rolling out the Joint Legacy Viewer, which “provides an integrated display of DoD, VA, and TRICARE network provider data for clinicians and other users.”

Miller told the committee that predeployment testing of the new EHR is nearing completion, and the system will undergo contractor testing through December 2016. “The new EHR represents a fundamental business transformation within DoD, and the bulk of our work moving forward is making sure our end-users and the DoD community as a whole are prepared to begin using this system once it comes online.”

The Surgeon Generals of the Air Force, Army, and Navy also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to Lieutenant General Mark A. Ediger, Air Force Surgeon General Veterans Choice Act led to decline in referrals to military facilities. In addition, all 3 Surgeons General expressed frustration with the continuing high rates of tobacco used among active-duty service members and the lack of success of tobacco cessation efforts.

Since 2005, 1 million veterans have been screened for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the VA’s Polytrauma System of Care (PSC).

The 1 million milestone “reflects [the] VA’s success in building an integrated polytrauma care program,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. The PSC was created to address the need for a multidisciplinary system of care for veterans who have 2 or more disabling physical, cognitive, functional, or psychological impairments.

The VA has 110 polytrauma rehabilitation sites that offer comprehensive inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Services include interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment, development of a comprehensive plan of care, case management, patient and family education, psychosocial support, and use of advanced rehabilitation treatments and prosthetic technologies. 

Another tool that supports clinical TBI care is the mobile phone application, Concussion Coach. The app provides a self-assessment tool for measuring symptoms, including feedback and a symptom tracker; relaxation exercises and other coping tips; and immediate access to crisis resources, personal support contacts, or professional health care resources.

All veterans are screened for possible TBI with a 4-question test. Those with a positive screen are referred to a TBI specialist for a Comprehensive TBI Evaluation, but specialists are often located at VA medical centers that not all veterans can easily reach. Therefore, the Office of Health Care Transformation funded a project to develop a standardized Comprehensive TBI Evaluation protocol delivered via telehealth technology. In 2013, a pilot project began at 16 sites; more than 40 sites have since been trained.

Since 2005, 1 million veterans have been screened for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the VA’s Polytrauma System of Care (PSC).

The 1 million milestone “reflects [the] VA’s success in building an integrated polytrauma care program,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. The PSC was created to address the need for a multidisciplinary system of care for veterans who have 2 or more disabling physical, cognitive, functional, or psychological impairments.

The VA has 110 polytrauma rehabilitation sites that offer comprehensive inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Services include interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment, development of a comprehensive plan of care, case management, patient and family education, psychosocial support, and use of advanced rehabilitation treatments and prosthetic technologies. 

Another tool that supports clinical TBI care is the mobile phone application, Concussion Coach. The app provides a self-assessment tool for measuring symptoms, including feedback and a symptom tracker; relaxation exercises and other coping tips; and immediate access to crisis resources, personal support contacts, or professional health care resources.

All veterans are screened for possible TBI with a 4-question test. Those with a positive screen are referred to a TBI specialist for a Comprehensive TBI Evaluation, but specialists are often located at VA medical centers that not all veterans can easily reach. Therefore, the Office of Health Care Transformation funded a project to develop a standardized Comprehensive TBI Evaluation protocol delivered via telehealth technology. In 2013, a pilot project began at 16 sites; more than 40 sites have since been trained.

Since 2005, 1 million veterans have been screened for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the VA’s Polytrauma System of Care (PSC).

The 1 million milestone “reflects [the] VA’s success in building an integrated polytrauma care program,” says VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD. The PSC was created to address the need for a multidisciplinary system of care for veterans who have 2 or more disabling physical, cognitive, functional, or psychological impairments.

The VA has 110 polytrauma rehabilitation sites that offer comprehensive inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Services include interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment, development of a comprehensive plan of care, case management, patient and family education, psychosocial support, and use of advanced rehabilitation treatments and prosthetic technologies. 

Another tool that supports clinical TBI care is the mobile phone application, Concussion Coach. The app provides a self-assessment tool for measuring symptoms, including feedback and a symptom tracker; relaxation exercises and other coping tips; and immediate access to crisis resources, personal support contacts, or professional health care resources.

All veterans are screened for possible TBI with a 4-question test. Those with a positive screen are referred to a TBI specialist for a Comprehensive TBI Evaluation, but specialists are often located at VA medical centers that not all veterans can easily reach. Therefore, the Office of Health Care Transformation funded a project to develop a standardized Comprehensive TBI Evaluation protocol delivered via telehealth technology. In 2013, a pilot project began at 16 sites; more than 40 sites have since been trained.

Backed by increased funding from Congress, the VA announced that it would now cover hepatitis C (HCV) treatment for all veterans. The VA estimates that there are 174,000 veterans with HCV infection and that it could spend about $1 billion to treat these veterans in fiscal year (FY) 2016 alone. Previously the VA had limited access to the new generation of expensive oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that promised to cure HCV for most veterans.

“To manage limited resources previously, we established treatment priority for the sickest patients,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin in a statement. “If veterans are currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice Program, they can now turn to their local VA facility for this treatment or can elect to continue to receive treatment through the Choice Program.”

Although the VA has promised to treat all infected veterans, according to a February 2016 memo, it is still advising health care providers to prioritize those with more advanced liver disease. The memo also pointed out that funding will not be available for additional staffing or laboratory testing, but departments should “ramp up treatment to the maximum possible capacity. Managers should ensure that adequate clinical resources…are allocated to clinics providing HCV treatment to allow full utilization of funding for HCV treatment.”

The VA expanded its available treatment options for HCV in addition to the previously approved DAAs daclatasvir/sofosbuvir and ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir regimens. The VA Pharmacy Benefit Management Services also released a new Criteria for Use and drug monograph in January 2016 for the recently FDA-approved DAA elbasvir/grazoprevir.

The VA has treated more than 76,000 veterans infected with HCV and cured about 60,000. Last year, the VA was forced to return to Congress to request additional funding for HCV treatment. In FY 2015, 17% ($696 million) of the VA pharmacy budget went to HCV treatment.

Backed by increased funding from Congress, the VA announced that it would now cover hepatitis C (HCV) treatment for all veterans. The VA estimates that there are 174,000 veterans with HCV infection and that it could spend about $1 billion to treat these veterans in fiscal year (FY) 2016 alone. Previously the VA had limited access to the new generation of expensive oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that promised to cure HCV for most veterans.

“To manage limited resources previously, we established treatment priority for the sickest patients,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin in a statement. “If veterans are currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice Program, they can now turn to their local VA facility for this treatment or can elect to continue to receive treatment through the Choice Program.”

Although the VA has promised to treat all infected veterans, according to a February 2016 memo, it is still advising health care providers to prioritize those with more advanced liver disease. The memo also pointed out that funding will not be available for additional staffing or laboratory testing, but departments should “ramp up treatment to the maximum possible capacity. Managers should ensure that adequate clinical resources…are allocated to clinics providing HCV treatment to allow full utilization of funding for HCV treatment.”

The VA expanded its available treatment options for HCV in addition to the previously approved DAAs daclatasvir/sofosbuvir and ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir regimens. The VA Pharmacy Benefit Management Services also released a new Criteria for Use and drug monograph in January 2016 for the recently FDA-approved DAA elbasvir/grazoprevir.

The VA has treated more than 76,000 veterans infected with HCV and cured about 60,000. Last year, the VA was forced to return to Congress to request additional funding for HCV treatment. In FY 2015, 17% ($696 million) of the VA pharmacy budget went to HCV treatment.

Backed by increased funding from Congress, the VA announced that it would now cover hepatitis C (HCV) treatment for all veterans. The VA estimates that there are 174,000 veterans with HCV infection and that it could spend about $1 billion to treat these veterans in fiscal year (FY) 2016 alone. Previously the VA had limited access to the new generation of expensive oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that promised to cure HCV for most veterans.

“To manage limited resources previously, we established treatment priority for the sickest patients,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin in a statement. “If veterans are currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice Program, they can now turn to their local VA facility for this treatment or can elect to continue to receive treatment through the Choice Program.”

Although the VA has promised to treat all infected veterans, according to a February 2016 memo, it is still advising health care providers to prioritize those with more advanced liver disease. The memo also pointed out that funding will not be available for additional staffing or laboratory testing, but departments should “ramp up treatment to the maximum possible capacity. Managers should ensure that adequate clinical resources…are allocated to clinics providing HCV treatment to allow full utilization of funding for HCV treatment.”

The VA expanded its available treatment options for HCV in addition to the previously approved DAAs daclatasvir/sofosbuvir and ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir regimens. The VA Pharmacy Benefit Management Services also released a new Criteria for Use and drug monograph in January 2016 for the recently FDA-approved DAA elbasvir/grazoprevir.

The VA has treated more than 76,000 veterans infected with HCV and cured about 60,000. Last year, the VA was forced to return to Congress to request additional funding for HCV treatment. In FY 2015, 17% ($696 million) of the VA pharmacy budget went to HCV treatment.