Healthcare was the main concern discussed by area veterans during a roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., Monday at the American Legion in Bradford.
Some veterans chose to take a moment for a one-on-one discussion with the congressman as he made his way to the front of the room. Others were willing to share concerns with the room in general, telling personal tales of struggle to be seen by medical professionals, fights over billing and sheer frustration with the lack of experience that civilian medical providers have in regard to veteran experiences and subsequent treatment needs.
The evening started with a salute to the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, a testament to the continued dedication of veterans to the country, despite the country’s lack of support for those who are no longer active status.
American Legion Commander Bill Hurrle, shared two primary concerns at the start of the discussion, noting the importance of taking care of veterans before they leave the service and citing recent instances of veterans who were failed by the system. He also discussed the astronomical costs that veterans face when they need to call an ambulance.
Thompson shared his personal interest in the topic, noting that his son is still an active duty staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, while his daughter-in-law is an Army veteran. Thompson noted he has had the opportunity to talk to friends and comrades of his son and daughter-in-law, and he has seen firsthand the struggles that veterans experience.
“When it is time to muster out, everyone is in a big hurry,” Thompson said. “Because of that, there are some lost opportunities for making that transition better.”
Thompson went on to explain that he has worked at great length with the Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, which focuses on providing help to ensure a “successful, healthy reintegration into civilian life.” The program typically has a six-month time frame. However, Thompson noted that the first symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, typically come to light eight to 10 months after a deployment or end of service. Therefore, an adjustment has been made so there are situations where TAMP can be approved for an individual on a less rigid timeline. These situations involve any indications that PTSD is a possibility for the veteran.
Other issues that came up included the high cost of an emergency room visit and the fact that the Bradford office for the VA does not have a medical professional with admitting privileges at Bradford Regional Medical Center. Frustrations were voiced by more than one attendee on the practices and lack of help from the Bradford office. The discussion included opinions from those the attending veterans knew who were willing to drive to Warren or even DuBois, as they felt they get better assistance at those locations. Thompson stated he would make note of that frustration and bring it to the attention of the appropriate people.
Another concern was the age gap between older veterans and the professionals providing care at the Erie VA. One particular area where the discrepancy is obvious is mental health services, where the providers are half the age of the veterans of Vietnam, for example, and do not have any idea of what the veterans went through during their deployments. As a result, the treatments suggested are not viable. One veteran noted he was told to “move on,” something that is not possible without supportive help from appropriately trained staff.
Still other concerns revolved around the requirement to take time off and travel in order to get new glasses if the veteran also needed new frames and the struggle to be able to see a doctor they were comfortable with who was local.
“I would like to see vets have cards that say they have VA benefits, and that you can use where you’d like and where you have confidence in the medical care you receive,” Thompson said.
Thompson sat attentively and discussed concerns with local veterans for over an hour and a half. The topics varied, but the underlying theme was a lack of support and understanding of veterans and their needs.
In addition to voicing these concerns to a political representative, two positives came of the night.
One frustration voiced was a struggle to get dentures through the VA. Another veteran present, a local dentist, noted that there have been instances where locals went through the approval process through the Erie dentist, who is overwhelmed with work, and they were able to get dentures locally.
Another positive was a note of praise for Zach Pearson, the current director of veterans services in the office at the McKean County Courthouse. A veteran present at the meeting noted he and others have gotten a lot of results since Pearson took over, compared to all the time since the veteran returned from the Vietnam War in 1968.
Thompson expressed gratitude that such a representative is around.
“Good, we need good vet reps in counties,” he said. He also encouraged veterans to consider his office as another potential resource, noting the vets should “use every asset you can” when it comes to getting help and dealing with issues they face.
In regard to concerns about billing issues, refusal to pay from the VA and potential danger to a veteran where the situation is seemingly ignored, Thompson encouraged those in the room — as well as family members of veterans or those who are close to the individual and have concerns — to reach out to the congressman’s Titusville office at 827-3985.
