Full Article at: Report claims Roanoke Veterans Affairs office mismanaged disability claims
By Scott Leamon | WSLS10 Reporter
A federal Office of Inspector General report claims employees with Roanoke’s regional office of veteran’s affairs mismanaged several disability claims.
Between August 25th to September 2nd of last year, the report reads several inspectors were at the office inside Roanoke’s Poff federal building.
The inspectors looked at everything from the contents of some employees’ desks to what was in their trash cans.
The report found the office did not meet 6 of 14 important operational areas.
It also found employees mismanaged the claims of several vets.
Inspectors looked at a sample of claims filed between January and March of 2009.
Of the 901 disability claims filed during that time frame, the sample studied 118 of them.
Inspectors found 29 of those 118 claims contained errors.
Cited examples include the story of one veteran diagnosed with coronary artery disease, a complication of diabetes after exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.
The report found claims agents denied the vet’s $21,857 claim incorrectly, finding bottom line the veteran’s claim should have been granted.
It also cited another example of a veteran with diabetes whom had a leg amputated.
The report claims the office granted the vet’s $14,103 claim despite his file clearly explaining the veteran did not meet the necessary criteria for benefits.
Inspectors found most of the problems were the result of bad bookkeeping. Others were due to outdated government forms. Still other mistakes were credited to poor employee training.
The report read that not all the mistakes were made at VA’s Roanoke regional office, but some other regional offices.
So far no one from the Roanoke regional office will comment on the report."
Monday, January 25, 2010
New York VA Offers Course for Caregivers, Mentally Illl Veterans
Full Article at: VA offers course for relatives of mentally ill veterans
By James T. Mulder / The Post-Standard
January 25, 2010, 8:58AM
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse VA Medical Center is offering a free 12-week course for family caregivers of veterans with mental illness.
The class runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Tuesday.
The program is based on a course developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Trained family members guided by VA professional behavioral counselors will teach the course. The course offers information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other illnesses. It also will focus on medications, side effects and strategies for medication adherence.
To enroll, call Ann Canastra at 425-4445, extension 51009, or e-mail her at Ann.Canastra@va.gov.
By James T. Mulder / The Post-Standard
January 25, 2010, 8:58AM
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse VA Medical Center is offering a free 12-week course for family caregivers of veterans with mental illness.
The class runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Tuesday.
The program is based on a course developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Trained family members guided by VA professional behavioral counselors will teach the course. The course offers information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other illnesses. It also will focus on medications, side effects and strategies for medication adherence.
To enroll, call Ann Canastra at 425-4445, extension 51009, or e-mail her at Ann.Canastra@va.gov.
Pittsburgh Veteran Homes Care Abismal
This is more than an alarm, it appears to be disaster.
Full Article at: Health alarm raised about two state-operated veterans homes
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, January 25, 2010
After Pennsylvania health inspectors visited the 514-bed Hollidaysburg Veterans Home in February, they were clearly alarmed.
Inspectors saw patients screaming, biting and kicking as four attendants held them down for bathing or treatment. Often, the inspectors found, patients received improper doses of powerful psychotropic drugs to avert bedlam. And when a staff member reported concerns about physical abuse of a resident, inspectors determined no one investigated.
"The administrator and director of nursing were not fulfilling their essential job duties to ensure the safety and proper health care services for residents," the inspectors concluded in a 37-page report.
Experts the Tribune-Review interviewed say the use of drugs is not the first-line treatment for dementia patients with behavioral problems. What's more, state law mandates that hospital administrators investigate reports of suspected abuse.
Both the Hollidaysburg home and Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton show a series of serious deficiencies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rated the facilities below average in meeting inspection requirements, giving them the lowest possible ranking: one star out of five."
Full Article at: Health alarm raised about two state-operated veterans homes
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, January 25, 2010
After Pennsylvania health inspectors visited the 514-bed Hollidaysburg Veterans Home in February, they were clearly alarmed.
Inspectors saw patients screaming, biting and kicking as four attendants held them down for bathing or treatment. Often, the inspectors found, patients received improper doses of powerful psychotropic drugs to avert bedlam. And when a staff member reported concerns about physical abuse of a resident, inspectors determined no one investigated.
"The administrator and director of nursing were not fulfilling their essential job duties to ensure the safety and proper health care services for residents," the inspectors concluded in a 37-page report.
Experts the Tribune-Review interviewed say the use of drugs is not the first-line treatment for dementia patients with behavioral problems. What's more, state law mandates that hospital administrators investigate reports of suspected abuse.
Both the Hollidaysburg home and Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton show a series of serious deficiencies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rated the facilities below average in meeting inspection requirements, giving them the lowest possible ranking: one star out of five."
Vets Win in PTSD Class Action Case
A bit of good news. Yet, it is sad that it has taken a class action suit to get what these vets deserve.
Then again, if more Vets take this route then perhaps the system will start to full fill the original intent.
National Veterans Legal Services Program
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP law firm have coordinated about 100 volunteer lawyers to offer free counseling."
Full Article at:
Thousands of vets could get benefits upgrade
WASHINGTON – The military has agreed to expedite a review the records of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder to determine whether they were improperly denied benefits.
The agreement stems from a judge's order in a class action lawsuit originally filed by seven combat veterans who alleged the military illegally denied benefits to those discharged because of the disorder during a six-year period that ended Oct. 14, 2008.
Legal notices are currently being mailed to about 4,300 veterans informing them that they can "opt-in" to the lawsuit until July 24 to participate in the expedited review. Attorneys for the veterans estimate that millions could be paid to veterans under the agreement, with some veterans receiving hundreds or more dollars in increased monthly benefits.
The National Veterans Legal Services Program was to discuss the suit at a press conference Monday.
"To help the affected veterans, the National Veterans Legal Services Program and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP law firm have coordinated about 100 volunteer lawyers to offer free counseling."
Then again, if more Vets take this route then perhaps the system will start to full fill the original intent.
National Veterans Legal Services Program
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP law firm have coordinated about 100 volunteer lawyers to offer free counseling."
Full Article at:
Thousands of vets could get benefits upgrade
WASHINGTON – The military has agreed to expedite a review the records of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder to determine whether they were improperly denied benefits.
The agreement stems from a judge's order in a class action lawsuit originally filed by seven combat veterans who alleged the military illegally denied benefits to those discharged because of the disorder during a six-year period that ended Oct. 14, 2008.
Legal notices are currently being mailed to about 4,300 veterans informing them that they can "opt-in" to the lawsuit until July 24 to participate in the expedited review. Attorneys for the veterans estimate that millions could be paid to veterans under the agreement, with some veterans receiving hundreds or more dollars in increased monthly benefits.
The National Veterans Legal Services Program was to discuss the suit at a press conference Monday.
"To help the affected veterans, the National Veterans Legal Services Program and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP law firm have coordinated about 100 volunteer lawyers to offer free counseling."
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