January 17, 2003
Veterans Affairs suspends enrollment in health program

Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi dropped a bomb Friday in meetings with key legislators and veterans' groups by announcing unexpected administration policies that amount to two steps forward and one step back for veterans.

Effective Friday, Principi will use his secretarial power to suspend enrollment in the VA health program for selected veterans for one year. That means an estimated 160,000 so-called "category eight" veterans with no disabilities and incomes above a means test adjusted for local cost of living, which could range from $24,000 to over $30,000, will not be able to be enrolled.

The suspension is intended to relieve VA's huge backlog of eligible veterans waiting for enrollment. Currently more than 200,000 veterans are waiting more than six months for their first medical appointment with VA.

By the end of the year, Principi hopes to be able to let some of those "category eight" veterans back into VA facilities under an agreement he has struck with HHS, with the approval of the White House. VA would become, in effect, a Medicare+Choice option for veterans holding Medicare Part B.

While implementation will take months, the plan would constitute the first time that Medicare has ever paid for care delivered through the VA—a longtime goal of veterans' advocates.

In its fiscal 2004 budget, Principi said the administration would request a historic $64 billion for the VA: a $4.1 billion increase over the fiscal 2003 budget request from $25.9 billion to $30 billion in discretionary spending, mostly health care, and a $1.2 billion hike from $32.8 billion to $34 billion in mandatory spending, mostly disability and pension benefits.

Senate Veterans Affairs ranking member Bob Graham, D-Fla., Thursday issued a statement condemning the new restrictions on enrollment as representing "misguided priorities." Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the previous Veterans Affairs Committee's ranking member, likewise told National Journal in a statement, "There is no question that VA is plagued by significant funding problems, but blocking health care for our nation's veterans is not the answer."

Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Penn., said in a statement that he was "very concerned" about the restrictions and pledged to hold hearings. But he approved the deal with Medicare, which "I have been pushing VA for a long time to undertake," he said.

By contrast, Senate VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., focused on the increased 2004 budget request, which he called "a huge victory for veterans' advocates."

Ronald Conley, national commander of the 3 million-member American Legion, denounced the plan, saying the damage done by curtailing eligibility far outweighed both the budget increase—which he called too small—and the new Medicare option.

"We just keep taking steps back; I haven't seen any steps forward yet," said Conley, reached via cell phone during a nationwide tour of VA facilities. "Cutting off veterans for access into the hospital is not the way to go; when Congress authorizes veterans to use that VA facility, then they need to properly fund it."

But representatives of veterans groups who were present at Principi's announcement were remarkably positive. They focused on the agreement to let Medicare pay for care in VA facilities, a longtime goal. And most groups had expected some restriction of enrollments would be inevitable to protect an overloaded system and its core constituency, disabled and indigent veterans.

"I would love to see everybody continue to be treated, but I understand what the secretary has done," said Robert Wallace, executive director of the Washington office of the 2.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars. "I put the blame on the United States Congress for not funding veterans' health care the way they should."

More on the Issue...

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1101/113001t2.htm 
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0102/011402nj2.htm 
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0702/070902t2.htm 
and on and on... somebody dropped the ball on this one and who's going to pay??? could it be an estimated 160,000 so-called "category eight" veterans
would/could this be the same---> as many as 160,000 of the nearly 700,000 men and women who served in Operation Desert Storm may have suffered lingering physical symptoms in its aftermath. Over a decade, the government funded 224 research projects, costing $213 million, to try to uncover the cause, extent and best treatment for the illness.
There's where all the Moneys headed IE the Clinton Administration.. lets build a Commitee and suck the money dry from the Veterans Funds to find out whats going on with this then Document it then Lose the Documents and then build another commitee to find out where the lost documents went to... one great big mess of Burocratic BS... in the mean time Vets are suffering and paying there own way... because to much spending is going into the wrong pockets and not where they need to be... them numbers don't add up... ask for 64 billion and cut funding for 160,000 Veterans somethings defenantly wrong there...

Just my .92 cents worth of Rant
Hog

I guess I'll have to use my health insurance instead of getting a government handout.

"a government handout" WTF are you talking about CJ ???

"a government handout" WTF are you talking about CJ ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

"There's where all the Moneys headed IE the Clinton Administration.."

I figured since Clinton has something to do with this boondoggle, it must be a handout and not an earned entitlement.

The guy is probably just trying to call attention to his problem. In the last couple decades I have seen congress doing a juggling act with military pay and benefits. They give a pay raise (late and low) and then diminish certain allowances and benefits. For instance: Raise base pay, but cut housing allowance. The VA system serves veterans who served in a war or conflict mainly and are suffering from service related illnesses. In some cases, said SERVICE RELATED illnesses may interfere with holding a job (no health insurance). Time for congress to step up and fulfill the countrie's obligation to those who were used and are now cast aside. I say, less perks and pay raises for beauracrats and legislators and more money spent where it should be spent.

CJBully

"I figured"

you figured wrong.

So let me get this straight. Veterans with non-service connected health problems are being turned away from the VA. I appreciate the fact that veterans served their country but I don't believe that alone should entitle them to free healthcare for non service related health problems.

http://www.va.gov/elig/page.cfm?pg=1 

What are the Priority Groups?
Once you apply for enrollment, your eligibility will be verified. Based on your specific eligibility status, you will be assigned a priority group.
The priority groups are as follows, ranging from 1-7 with 1 being the highest priority for enrollment. Under the Medical Benefits Package, the same services are generally available to all enrolled veterans.
Priority Group 1
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more
Priority Group 2
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40%
Priority Group 3
Veterans who are former POWs
Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20%
Veterans discharged from active duty for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
Veterans who received the Purple Heart
Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under 38 U.S.C., Section 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"
Priority Group 4
Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits
Veterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled
Priority Group 5
Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable service-connected veterans rated 0% disabled, whose annual income and net worth are below the established dollar thresholds
Priority Group 6
All other eligible veterans who are not required to make copayments for their care, including:
World War I and Mexican Border War veterans
Veterans seeking care solely for disorders associated with: exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam; or exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; or for disorders associated with service in the Gulf War; or for any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998
Compensable 0% service-connected veterans
Priority Group 7
Nonservice-connected veterans and noncompensable 0% service-connected veterans with income and net worth above the established dollar thresholds and who agree to pay specified copayments

X was on the right track with this... and you also Penzt..
CJ I don't have a Clue as to what you were implying...
I said the Clinton Administration and there made up programs is one reason the VA is in such a black hole and turning Veterans away today...
what I was getting at with this post was the fact that this Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, was going to ask for 64 Billion in for the VA but yet still deny coverage to 160,000 members... seems to me someone is miss managing things somewhere... like maybe this guy has relation in Enron or something...
I myself have other Health Insurances but one of the Benefits of being a Veteran is the VA...after 17 yrs myself and volunteering for every mission that came along because I know my Job and am Damn good at it!!!
(Service before Self) but watching the benefits entitled dwindle away by Congress and the previous Administration make me wonder if there will be anything left when I am at the point to call it Quits... in one of the url's I posted above is about the Bush Administration's Promise in 2000 to help cover these costs... and to read on into the realm of what has happened since then is Bad Blood... most of Congress has put stops or added other crap to the passages on the helpings for the VA... should I list the names of the ones apposing this and other things this Administration is trying to get done??? na I didn't think so.. Like I said in the front line of this post a Kick in the Shorts... CJ read the whole thing before you go off Half Cocked

Laterzzzz
Hog

It wouldn't be George the First's fault that the vets have these lingering problems, would it? Nope, He sent them over to the Middle East but Clinton caused it by funding stuff.

Every post you make from "Dog Rockets to Religion" has some kind of democratic political hack job associated with it. It's all a giant liberal conspiracy to make your life miserable. The GOP has never done anything bad politically, right?. Tell that to the voters in Illinois. As far as I'm concerned, both parties suck the big hog! How's that! And I didn't vote for Clinton! Surprise, surprise!

And, Mr. "I'm-a better-American-than-you", "service before self" means suck it up and get on with your life. It doesn't mean "moan, bitch, and whine" about everything that doesn't favor your political or religious ideology.

That's it, over and Out! Rack 'em!

CJ what did I strike a Nerve? blood pressure puching 210/180??
what do you know about dogrockets?? from your posts if the lable was removed you couldn't tell if it was a Lone Wolf or a ISOM one post your an expert the next post you admit to not knowing diddley the only consitancy in your posts is #1 if Rick were to turn sideways you would get a nose bleed and #2 Since you've been posting on here from lets say August 2002 on to now. Once a Month this time frame you Blast someone on there postings (what PMS setting in) So toot your horn at somebody else Newbee... and as far as my posts go its your constitutional first amendment right to post as it is mine.. you don't like what I post about, it is your right to not read them, as it is mine...
You want to just slam me about something drop me an email...

Hog

pssst... btw I didn't vote for Clinton either!!!!
and if you ask nobody else did either... But for the record I did for GWB!!! and will Again :0)~~~

Presidents historically take care of the military. Congress screws 'em as soon as the fighting is over. That way they have the cash to support a big fat raise for themselves 'cause of how hard they work and all.

Can someone please decode Cornbreads post?

English as a second language must be especially tough considering you were born and raised in this country.

CJBully ,Yeah I could probably try and interperet for you but that would first require that you pull your f_in' head out of your Arse! LOL If you haven't guessed by now subtlety isn't one of my strong points...LOLOL

JJ

CJBully

who is Cornbread

CJ's last response is typical when one is losing the argument. Try to get away from the original topic by questioning another's command of the English language. He did the same thing with me on the Illinois Death Penalty post by referring me to the use of the dictionary! Go Hog....I love cornbread!

CJ..USAHog is a well respected person around here. He served our country with pride. He deserves to have an opinion. He paid his dues. The "cornbread" remark was classless.
If you don't like what he says, don't read it.

Conebred? Well, hush ma pokepie stuffin'mouf! I sure iz powr'ful hungry an some conebred wud goes good wif my pinto beans and green bean casserole.

Sho' be nice to sees a lot mo cookin' folk be droppin' by!