DAV: Veterans Care Endangered by Funding Shortfalls
To: National Desk
Contact: David W. Gorman of the Disabled American Veterans, 202-554-3501
WASHINGTON, July 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is outraged that more than 67,000 sick and disabled veterans could be denied lifesaving medical treatment because of devastating budget shortfalls in the coming year.
"The directors of the 22 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system have painted a very bleak picture for health care to our nation's veterans unless Congress and the Administration provide adequate resources the meet the growing demand for care," said DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. "The veterans health care system is in crisis, and only strong, decisive leadership in Congress and in the Administration can prevent the looming disaster."
Survey findings released today by U.S. Sen. Paul D. Wellstone (D-Minn.) reveal that the directors of 20 out of the 22 VA health care networks reported that a flat-lined budget for fiscal year 2000 "would result in a shortfall in the funds necessary to provide current services" to veterans. According to the survey, 19 of the 22 VISN directors indicated that staff reductions would be necessary. All together, the VISN directors say as many as 9,900 jobs would have to be cut unless the current $17.3 billion VA health care funding level is substantially increased.
"Even more troubling is the potential reduction in the number of veterans cared for," said Gorman. Just 13 of the 22 VISNs indicated whether the number of patients they serve would be affected by President Clinton's proposed $17.3 billion VA health care budget. Startlingly, eight of those 13 networks that provided data indicated they would likely need to reduce the number of veterans served under the President's budget request.
One network director said services may need to be eliminated for as many as 17,000 veterans because of a funding shortfall. All together the responses indicated that as many as 67,129 fewer veterans would be served under a flat-lined fiscal year 2000 budget.
Even if Congress approves a $500 million increase above the President's request, staff reductions and cutbacks in veterans health care would have to be necessary in some cases, the Wellstone survey found.
Denial or delay of health care by the VA because the Administration and Congress have refused to provide adequate funding is a travesty of monumental proportions. It is an outrage that must be corrected immediately so the VA can provide quality and timely health care which our nation's veterans have earned.
The DAV and other major veterans groups continue to urge Congress and President Clinton to support an increase in federal appropriations of $3 billion above the current $17.3 billion VA health care budget.
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The Disabled American Veterans, which represents 2.3 million disabled veterans, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. The DAV is dedicated to one, single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families.
-0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 07/22 08:15
Copyright 1999, U.S. Newswire
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