MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE:

On behalf of the 2.3 million men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) and our Auxiliaries, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide our views on the draft bills under consideration at today’s hearing.  All three would make meaningful changes in the law, improving the quality of health care this nation’s veterans receive at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  We urge quick passage of all three.

Draft Bill, Family Counseling

The VFW is pleased to support this legislation, which would expand the counseling services that VA provides to family members of sick and disabled service members.

Currently, VA provides limited services to family members, under certain circumstances.  This bill would strike two of the requirements for veterans not yet rated as service-connected – that the family members begin counseling while the veteran is still hospitalized, and that the services are necessary for the veteran to adjust outside the hospital.  Striking these two requirements would greatly expand the range of services VA could provide, and would be of great benefit to veterans, especially those returning from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This section of the law was crafted before the current conflicts began, and it needs to be updated to reflect the changes in the needs of veterans.  In the case of a returning service member who is in need of care, many are not rated as service connected because either they have not yet applied for benefits, or because of the length of time it takes VA to produce a decision on a claim.  This same veteran may also not be hospitalized for their condition, instead receiving limited outpatient treatments.  In both cases, the support VA can provide to the veteran’s family is limited.

We have seen with this conflict – especially with mental health issues – that families are at the forefront of providing care and easing the service member’s transition back into civilian life.  Their spouses and loved ones can provide a safe, stable and supportive network, and their involvement can only improve the effectiveness of the treatment that veterans receive.

Beyond that, the stresses and strains of frequent deployments and the transition period affect families as well.  The impact of the conflict extends beyond the deserts of Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan, right into each family’s front door.  Numerous studies have shown that increasing numbers of separating service members are facing marital problems and difficulties at home, at a time when the stability of family is often so essential.

Expanding the range of services we provide to the families of our veterans is the right thing to do for all. This bill would make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of men and women, and we urge its quick passage.

Draft Bill, Eliminating Co-Payments for Catastrophically Disabled Veterans

The VFW is happy to offer our strong support for this draft legislation, which would exempt catastrophically disabled veterans in enrollment priority category four from having to pay hospital or nursing home co-payments.  This bill is clearly the right thing to do as it eliminates an unfair financial penalty on a group of veterans who demonstrate true need.

These catastrophically disabled veterans were placed in category four to protect their enrollment status.  This group of veterans has a long list of special needs, many of which VA is uniquely suited to address.  For great numbers of them, VA is their safety net.  With their inability to work, they often lack other forms of health care insurance, but also the financial means to pay for the intensive health care services their conditions require.  If VA is there to, in part, provide care for those who have the greatest need, then changing this policy is entirely justified.

The nature of their disabilities means that these men and women require intensive and life-long care.  VA acknowledges their unique needs by providing the specialized services to them, but at the same time, VA fails to recognize their special circumstances by charging them copayments.

The VFW has had a long-standing resolution in support of this concept.  Most recently, the voting delegates to our 108th National Convention approved Resolution 639, calling for this exemption.  I would note that our resolution also requests that this exemption be extended to those low-income, pension-eligible veterans in category five.  They, too, have a demonstrated need for VA health care services and finances can often be a deterrent to receiving their earned health care.  We would ask the subcommittee to consider this issue.

Draft Bill, Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations

The VFW is pleased to offer our support for the draft bill on nonprofit research and education corporations.  The changes this bill would make would strengthen and improve VA’s nonprofit research corporations (NPCs).  NPCs help VA to conduct research and education and assist in the raising of funds for VA’s essential projects from sources VA otherwise might not have access to, to include private and public funding sources.  NPCs also provide administrative support and services, freeing up VA researchers to focus on their projects and patients.

The legislation would allow for the creation of multi-medical center NPCs.  This would let several smaller facilities pool their resources to improve management or staffing.  We believe that this would streamline the administration of these organizations, reducing overhead, but also tightening up their control, especially in accordance with the recent VA Inspector General report.

This bill would also reaffirm that NPCs are 501 (c)(3) organizations that are not owned or controlled by the federal government.  This is important to ensure that they are able to receive funding from all sources and to clarify their purpose in accordance with various state laws and private foundation regulations.

Ultimately, the bill would make more funds available for critical research purposes.  It would also improve the accountability and oversight of these corporations, requiring more information in their annual reports and periodic audits of their activities.   Together, these changes would greatly benefit America’s veterans.

We strongly support this legislation, and urge the subcommittee to report it favorably.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony.  I would be happy to answer any questions that you or the members of the Subcommittee may have.  Thank you.