Oregon Veterans

Oregon Veterans Hit By Healthcare Cutbacks Despite Record Spending?

Oregon Veterans

Recent drawdowns in VA healthcare spending has harmed Oregon veterans access to qualified doctors for veterans in Bend, Oregon.

For years, veterans living in Bend, Oregon, received competent healthcare from medical specialists in urology and dermatology. Recent internal budget changes have resulted in Bend veterans being without these specialties forcing travel to Portland VA because of ludicrous Veterans Choice rules.

Veterans needing specialty care will not qualify for community care even if their local outpatient clinic stops providing the care they need. I had a client die last year who was affected by this policy while dying from stage 4 cancer.

But didn’t VA have record budget increases over the past years? Why is VA now drowing down on non-urban healthcare resources?

The Bend Oregon Issue

According to The Bulletin:

“The Department of Veterans Affairs’ outpatient clinic in Bend is cutting its urology services, and there are hints that more specialties could be on the chopping block in the future.

“A VA spokesman described the move as part of a broader VA shift toward focusing on primary care and mental health services in its community clinics and shifting specialty care to either the VA’s medical center in Portland or to private, non-VA providers. It’s not clear, though, what that means for the clinic’s other specialty services, which include audiology, optometry, orthopedics and physical therapy, among others.

“’We have a lot more requests for primary care and mental health, so we’re trying to match that supply and demand by putting resources where they’re needed,’ said Dan Herrigstad, a spokesman for the VA Portland Health Care System. ‘That does not mean we’re taking away from any other services at this particular time anywhere.’”

The Bend, Oregon issue caught my attention because the geography of that part of Oregon creates unique complications Veterans Choice refuses to consider.

The Oregon Veterans Issue

This example seems to be endemic of a larger problem where VA is cutting back on specialty care while roping veterans into driving hundreds of miles based on Veterans Choice exclusions:

“The VA used to send a dermatologist to Bend regularly, but, like with urology, it stopped doing that. Instead, two primary care doctors at the Bend clinic have become certified to perform minor dermatology procedures, Herrigstad said.

“Still, Hicks, a Vietnam veteran, is worried they could miss something.

“’They set it up where they can have somebody here to take pictures if they saw something, but they’re not going to know what to look for,’ he said.

“In June, Hicks said he drove to Portland for a check up. The doctor found something suspicious, so he had to drive back to Portland shortly after for surgery to have the lesion removed. He applied for the Choice Program, but was told he’s not eligible because he lives so close to the clinic in Bend.

“Gregoricus said he was saddened to learn the clinic was cutting urology, especially given how common urological problems are among the aging men he knows.

“’To think that it’s become inconvenient for them to send a doctor down to Bend is almost ludicrous given what it takes to go to Portland,’ he said. ‘It’s an insult to veterans in general.’”

I Lived In Oregon (Loved It!)

While I lived in Portland, Oregon (lived the dream, let me tell you, the rumors about that place are true – everyone is happier than anywhere else I’ve ever lived), I also traveled to Bend a couple times.

The thing with Bend is that you can only get there by traveling about 160 miles through mountain overpasses that you cannot drive through for six months of the year due to the danger of snow blizzards.

The roads literally close for much of the winter. So how do you get your VA healthcare covered? Under traditional Veterans Choice exclusions, you do not.

Bend to PortlandIf you need to drive to Portland, you will definitely need chains on your truck while driving around Mt. Hood in the dead of winter. If you need to go straight west toward Eugene, you cannot because the overpass is literally closed under many feet of snow.

Anyway, this story strikes a chord because veterans living in that area may be without coverage for healthcare due to the outlandish restrictions of Veterans Choice.

Again, if you live near a VA outpatient facility, regardless of whether it can treat cancer or your urology problem, you may need to drive through the mountains in dead winter to get access to covered healthcare.

Does That Make Sense?

Let’s hope you are not a single parent or own animals on a farm because you will likely not get back within the same day or even a few days in bad weather.

Seems absurd to me, especially when VA is receiving record funding. Why are they drawing down on specialty care when the budget is higher than ever?

Sounds like someone is sneaking away with the cash, but what else is new?

Source: https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/4782041-151/bend-va-clinic-cutting-urology-services?referrer=fpblob

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70 Comments

  1. “Microblogging service Twitter is down worldwide”
    Russian Times, (RT) news service.

    DETAILS TO FOLLOW

    Published time: 7 Nov, 2016 Russian time zone — 06:07 translates to 12:07 central time USA

    “https://www.rt.com/news/365575-microblogging-twitter-down-worldwide/”

  2. It’s true. Comey caved again.
    From “Fox News” live, streamed live about an hour ago.

    “FBI Clears Hillary Clinton, Comey ‘nothing new’ in emails, Wikileaks 11/6/16”

    Our country is at a crossroads. Will it survive? Only GOD knows the answer.
    Will “Lady Justice” see the end of America? Will anyone who has stood up against the deranged radical leftist democrats be safe in the coming months?
    I’m not a “defeatist”! I hope and pray for a miracle.

  3. This report, from “Next News Network”, was just released, Nov. 6, 2016! How true it is, remains to be seen.

    “Breaking: Comey Lets Clinton Off The Hook, Discredits FBI Again”

    There’s a lot of info in this article. For example; “Time Magazine” already has Hillary Crowned the new Ruler/Queen of America!

  4. Seymore, this is, without a doubt, one of the best “Anti-Hillary ads” around. If y’all haven’t seen it, here it is!

    “Brutal new anti-Hillary ad shows why Benghazi panel matters”

    from Fox News, “The Kelly File”,
    Oct 14, 2016 (05:00 minutes)
    It’s playing in many of the key swing states.
    Rep. Jason Chaffetz explains why the American People need to NOT vote for Hillary Clinton, “The Butcher of Benghazi”!

    According to another Fox News report, out this weekend on Utube, the “33,000 (deleted, “bleach bitted”) emails” are in the 650,000 emails!

    It looks like there are many in our government security agencies and law enforcement agencies, doing their best to keep America Free.

    I truly believe, by the Grace of God, our country is going to be returned to “We the People”!

  5. Regarding the research released on Veterans suicides this last summer.

    “Stop overmedicating our Vets” by Patrick D Hahn, Baltimore Sun, Nov 6th, 2016

    The Article draws attention to the fact that the true findings of the report show that treatment by VA health care leads to an increase in Veterans suicides.

    “Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist of 48 years’ experience who testified at the 2010 congressional hearings on veteran suicides, told me “the kinds of issues that people deal with that result in their getting psychiatric drugs are not helped by psychiatric drugs, which can only harm the brain and make it more difficult to feel your feelings and to think clearly. They drug the veterans, hopping basically to stupefy them and make them passive so they won’t demand services. I think it’s a crime that those who are veterans, who have survived our wars, are being killed off by the pharmaceutical empire and its practices.””

    Full article at: “https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/”

  6. In case you missed it, here’s a Utube video, out on Oct. 26, 2016, heralding Donald Trump by MICHAEL MOORE.
    Yes, the same Michael Moore who’s a raving Socialist, Marxist etc.
    He nails it on Mr. Trump!

    “Michael Moore gives powerful endorsement of Donald Trump”

    This IS one helluva speech!

    1. Elf,

      Did you see this Obama telling undocumented aliens that they can vote and not to worry about being investigated.

      “AWFUL: Obama Encourages Illegal Aliens to Vote on Live TV. SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE!”, YouTube Published on Nov 5, 2016.

      “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiywDVCPzwI”

      1. Seymore,
        It looks as though not one person has actually been charged with voter fraud. Except those voting for Donald Trump.

  7. If y’all wanted “INTENT” to be part of the equation concerning Hillary’s inept handling of ‘classified materials’, here it is!
    Just released by the FBI, Saturday, is proof positive Hillary Clinton broke the law!
    From “Fox & Friends” today. 6 Nov 2016.

    “News Alert: Hillary Clinton LATEST NEWS Today, FBI SHARE New Emails From Hillary to Huma Abedin”

    Seems Hillary was emailing her “housemaid”, a Philippine National, to enter the “Secured Room” and “…print out classified materials…”! The “material” was about Libya!
    Not only that, the ‘maid’ never did, or does not currently, hold a security clearance!
    This IS a violation of many laws! One being “Treason”!
    This news video is making its way across the internet. Just makes one wonder “WHEN” the “Butcher of Benghazi” will be held accountable.

  8. Yesterday I received this large, glossy, full-color, heavy stock paper flier looking all about voting in Ohio, with HUGE black letters across stating, “WE HAVE NO RECEIVED YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT OR REGISTRATION YET ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS”.
    Mind you, I sent my absentee ballot in already and through Ohio’s Board of Elections website, I can log-in and see that my ballot had indeed been received couple weeks ago.
    These fliers were arbitrarily mailed-out to everyone in my County of Franklin.

    ***VERY SMALL LETTERS*** on bottom of flier, and you really have to look for it, it states: “paid for by the democratic party”.

    So what they are doing is attempting to cast doubt on an already cast absentee ballot voter by possibly causing lack of confidence in the results or even the election system itself.

    However, according to Democratic HQ, when called about this, they stated “We are only making people aware of the election and at the time of printing these no absentee ballots had been sent-out to voters yet”
    WTF!!! So the truth in false advertising by Democrats is it was not a false flag or anything nefarious because what they said was indeed true in that they had not received ANYONE’s absentee ballot at the time of printing…not mailing…RAT BASTARDS.
    ^My snapshot of one of many facets of what’s very wrong with our political party system. Probably a good thing my car is in shop now having it’s blown transmission rebuilt or I would be tempted to return that flier to the Democratic HQ office after cleaning my cat’s catbox. 🙂

    1. Namnibor

      You could always pick up some tootsie rolls if you care to wrap them up a surprise. There been a rabbit hanging around my place I could always send them a box filled with country style smart pills to go with their tootsie rolls.

      After all they can’t be very bright given their blind loyalty to some one like Hillary. Personally I might have voted for Sanders but voting for some one with her baggage no way possible. Pretty much turned off to Dems after all the bs that is being connected to their party.

      1. I did not vote for Hillary. I was more of a Bernie Sanders supporter until I researched his craptastic time with the Veteran’s Committee, so went with the only candidate that’s at least acknowledged the problems at the VA and Federal Agencies, Trump, and if he wins, we can make him eat his words about wanting to clean-up the VA and am sure the media will help plenty in holding his words to action as well.
        I have talked to many folk here that are registered Republicans going for Hillary and registered Democrats going for Trump. I do not think the polls have a true clue how crazy this race and outcome will be.
        The recounts should be fun. Predicting many recounts and maybe results around Thanksgiving.

        I am seriously concerned that regardless of outcome of this election that there potentially could be some rioting.

      2. Seymore & namnibor,
        I believe we are in the making of a “Constitutional Crisis”!
        I also believe there’s going to be a “Rising of American Voices heard around the world”, much like the proverbial “Shot Heard Around the World”!
        This kind of ‘election cycle’ has never happened in my lifetime. As I believe all on here will agree.

  9. “Donald Trump Gets Pulled Off Stage By Secret Service After Protesters Grabs A Gun! Reno Nevada”

    Utube video (07:42 minutes)

    Donald Trump Jr. talks about our government and “the tolerate left”! “What are we going to leave our children?”
    That’s a great question!

    1. Hey Elf,

      Here is a link to a report published on USA today by a reporter who interviewed the guy responsible.

      “The man behind the Trump rally disturbance in Reno”, Seth A. Richardson, Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal 3:28 a.m. EST November 6, 2016

      1. “https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/06/donald-trump-nevada-rally/93385996/”

  10. Seymore
    Check this out from “us politics today”
    Posted 5 Nov 2016

    “Washington Post Uncovers 1,100 Hidden Foreign Clinton Cash Donations”

    I guess “Trey Gowdy and Rep. Chaffetz will be having a field day…” with this information.
    I wonder if this money was part of the $1.8 BILLION which was sent to Qatar?
    Maybe this money was what she, and the rest of those corrupt cronies, will be using to live the “high life”?!?!!??

    1. Also Elf

      Check out his Video posted today titled.

      “A Video Of Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Office Being Raided By F.B.I”

      “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS-4YCOVAQg”

      1. Seymore, out in Reno, Nevada last night, a Hillary supporter(s) tried to assassinate Donald Trump.
        The Secret Service was definitely on their mark.
        The one that had the gun had the crap kicked outta him!
        There’s definitely going to be some blow back on this!

      2. The raid at what looks like Hillary’s campaign headquarters was done in early August around the 8th. It was posted was recently posted so I though that it was new but after further research it appears that it was done with about 7 other searches by the FBI involving Union Corruption and may not involve Hillary.

  11. Seymore,
    Sounds like Cohen was taking ‘pointers’ from “The Clinton Crime Family’ on how to run a “Fake Nonprofit Organization”!

    1. Elf it looks more like Cohen’s foundation is part of a network of foundations owned that including the foundations owned by the Clintons and George Soros.

      1. I agree, Seymore. As in a majority of all the (inter)nationally widespread Veterans Service Organizations!
        Plus many more!

  12. Cover your nose, your backsides and your wallet when reading this because it truly stinks. After the foundations of J. Thomas Burch both non-profit organizations reportedly collecting about $29 million in the claim of helping Veterans while only spending about $120,000 of the donations on charities like helping his brother, a non-Veteran. Clearly the failure of the Veterans Administration to go after Burch is drawing new and more ambitious flies to the Poo Pile.

    ****************************
    ****************************

    “Disgraced Hedge Fund Manager Focuses on Aiding Veterans”, by Paul Sullivan, NY Times, Nov. 4, 2016

    “Mr. Cohen, who is prohibited from managing other people’s money until 2018, is approaching this endeavor in a way common to others in hedge funds: focusing on an issue and going big.”

    “I wanted to do something big,” he added. “I wanted to do something that was all mine.”

    “That something is a two-pronged initiative to help veterans who return from combat with post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injuries and a separate nonprofit organization to do research into diagnostic tools and treatments for those conditions.”

    “But what puts Mr. Cohen in line with other hedge fund philanthropists is his belief in himself and his ability to guide the organizations. “We have an approach that is more rigorous,” he said. “The problem with the veterans’ charity arena is it’s incredibly fragmented. This charity raises $3 million. The charity in Tampa raises $2 million, and they do what they do.””

    “This is different,” he added. “We’re trying to create a national network and learn from it.”

    “Regardless of Mr. Cohen’s timing or his motivation, his approach to veterans’ issues follows a path taken by other hedge fund managers: Get involved with Robin Hood, start a family foundation and then find an issue that hedge fund money and connections might fix.”

    “Hedge fund pioneers like George Soros and Paul Tudor Jones gave substantially to organizations of their creation aimed at big problems — Mr. Soros to the Open Society Foundation, which promotes democracy, and Mr. Jones in founding Robin Hood.”

    Full article with a lot more at: “https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/giving/disgraced-hedge-fund-manager-focuses-on-aiding-veterans.html?_r=0”

    Also for a closer look inside of Cohen’s current scheming criminal enterprise and the names of some of those involved.

    Visit “The Cohen Veterans Care Summit is the pre-eminent convening event for private and public sector leadership to gather and advance the Veterans Mental Health research agenda and clinical care delivery model.”

    “https://www.cohencaresummit.org/speakers/”

    The source for the information was from: Mr. Cohen, the billionaire investor, in an interview at his family office, Point72 Asset Management. It is in the same building as his former hedge fund, SAC Capital Advisors, which in 2013 paid $1.8 billion in fines to federal prosecutors and securities regulators. That is why Mr. Cohen is prohibited from managing other people’s money until 2018.

    1. Note the speakers. Also note that the speakers are all paid fees to speak in support of this new criminal enterprise.

      1. If you look through the names of these paid speakers you will find a few we all recognize.

        One that jumps right out is David J. Shulkin, MD, Under Secretary for Health
        United States Department of Veterans Affairs

      2. As far as corruption goes here a link to a group photo of Cohen with reps from his Point 72 Capital Management and William Montague at a friend raiser shortly before Montague’s indictment and pleaded guilty to 64 corruption-related charges for his management of several VAMCs in Ohio.

        Note Cohen’s Point 72 was also involved in the corruption charges involving Veteran Administration funds.

        “https://futurefive.org/2014/12/03/making-new-friends-in-stamford/”

        I wonder how much the Under Secretary of Health for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs David J. Shulkin will be paid for his appearance and speaking in support of Cohen’s Point 72 wealth management plan for those managing the VA budget.

        Maybe $500,000 or does it get into the seven figure range?

        Maybe we all should ask him.

      3. Although you do have to admit the Disgraced Hedge Fund Manager foundations plan to collect donations and grants for bribing VA officials for control of the VA Budgets is truly the ultimate in corruption.

        All while he is prohibited from managing other people’s money until 2018 instead he will be managing our tax dollars. That is truly an evil Genius.

  13. I have been puzzling over formulating a simple answer to the VA in America. I think I have it although the solution I propose would prove deadly, irreversable, unethical, and a complete dis-service to America’s military it is for precisely these reasons that our congressional and Presidential leadership would be willing to do this…

    I propose that we put VA in charge of providing all healthcare products to ACTIVE duty military as well as inactive. Everywhere in the world. Cya later corpsman, Officer Medical Corp, M.A.S.H. Unit 4077, and all military folks who do this now, and let VA take it forward….

    Theme song from M.A.S.H now strumming in the background…

  14. Another weekend special poo offering on the VA. This is turd is about the truly sick demented VA Physician Assistant who was drugging and using Veterans as sex toys. One of the stories the VA tried to make go away from the beginning but a county prosecutor would not let the VA cover it up.

    “Trial date set for former VA physician assistant”, By John Richmeier, Leavenworth times, Posted Nov 4, 2016

    “A new trial date has been set for a former physician assistant accused of sexually abusing patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth.

    The criminal case of Mark E. Wisner is scheduled to go to trial April 3 in Leavenworth County District Court.
    Wisner is charged with one felony count of aggravated sexual battery, one felony count of aggravated criminal sodomy and three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery.

    The crimes are alleged to have occurred between 2012 and 2014 while Wisner was working at the Eisenhower VA Medical Center.”

    Nothing like having a homosexual rapist as a pretend doctor. This sh~t only happens at the VA

    more about it at:

    “https://www.leavenworthtimes.com/news/20161104/trial-date-set-for-former-va-physician-assistant”

    1. Seymore,
      At least Wisner is living in the right town, Leavenworth, Kansas. He’ll be right there close to a perfect cell.

  15. Hey Namnibor,

    Friday night poo dropping special.

    “Senators blast VA’s ‘inadequate’ response to disabled vet’s death”
    Tony Leys , 5:51 p.m. CDT November 4, 2016

    “Iowa’s U.S. senators slammed the Department of Veterans Affairs this week for declining to investigate how a former Iowa veteran with severe disabilities wound up stuck in a rundown Texas rental house with four parolees.”

    “The longtime Des Moines resident was disabled by Parkinson’s disease stemming from his Vietnam War service. Meisel, 68, died in Texas last March, three weeks after allegedly being pushed out of his wheelchair and beaten by two roommates who are convicted sex offenders. The veteran, who reportedly had trouble feeding himself, weighed just 102 pounds when he died, the autopsy report shows.”

    “Meisel’s friends in Des Moines were shocked to learn after his death that he had been transferred from a nursing home to the rental home, where no professional care was provided. The friends, Gary and Vickie Welch, said he received substantial veteran’s benefits, including a $3,685 monthly pension and free health care, because his illness was caused by exposure to the chemical Agent Orange in Vietnam. They also said he had $70,000 in the bank when he left Iowa in 2013.”

    “A VA administrator, Thomas Murphy, responded to the senators’ inquiry last week, with a letter that said the agency did not see a need for an in-depth investigation.”

    “Murphy wrote that Meisel’s brother-in-law, Larry Gould, had been designated by the VA as his “fiduciary” in 2014. That designation gave Gould authority to spend Meisel’s VA benefits on the veteran’s behalf. The VA said Gould filed a required financial report in August 2015, but failed to provide all necessary documentation. Murphy told the senators the department then requested “specific bank statements and documentation regarding an asset purchase,” to which Gould never responded.”

    much more about this and video at:

    “https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2016/11/04/senators-blast-vas-inadequate-response-disabled-vets-death/93291834/”

    1. Murphy of course, would not want to investigate this because of the Agent Orange-related illnesses this Veteran suffered from *and* the VA’s criminal fiduciary program, which this case looks very much like the appointed VA Fiduciary may have literally taken Meisel to the bank & cleaners. Why was he transferred from a nursing home to that home? Did the VA not want to pay for nursing home care or was it more like the appointed VA Fiduciary would not have as much “control” if Meisel were in a nursing home?

      That article brought-out VBA Thomas “agent orange” Murphy’s true colors in shades of orange when he stated he did not personally see where an investigation was even needed. Rat Bastards!

      1. I was postulating how much Thomas Murphy’s personal bias entered into decision to not warrant any in-depth investigation. Is this now the new normal where any Vet caught within claws of VA negligence and fraud and ends-up dead, if their health issues involved complications from AO, Murphy will contain it so AO cannot be further dealt with in “Providing Veterans A Square Deal”, as the VA loves to tout?

        Where did this Vet’s savings go to? New car and addition to the house of fiduciary?

    2. Seymore, I read the article from the De Moines Iowa newspaper.
      It looks as though there’s a big difference of opinion between the vets brother and the VA’s telling of what transpired.
      Maybe the Senators should bring Murphy in front of Congress, place him ‘under oath’, ask pertinent questions, and tell him IF he lies, he will be charged with “Contempt”!
      There’s got to be a reason behind “WHY” that vet was transfered to that dilapidated house. I just can’t believe it was for “grouping female nurses!” I believe it was because the VHA nursing staff just didn’t want to take care of him! That he had gotten so bad, physically and mentally, they weren’t trained well enough as “care givers” to be able to care for him.
      If it happened to this vet, are there other veterans who have been transfered to places such as this.
      I believe this isn’t the end of this story.

      1. I agree Elf. There is a lot more to this story and it really does need to be uncovered.

  16. Hey Namnibor,
    Friday night special.

    “Senators blast VA’s ‘inadequate’ response to disabled vet’s death”
    Tony Leys , [email protected] 5:51 p.m. CDT November 4, 2016

    “Iowa’s U.S. senators slammed the Department of Veterans Affairs this week for declining to investigate how a former Iowa veteran with severe disabilities wound up stuck in a rundown Texas rental house with four parolees.”

    “The longtime Des Moines resident was disabled by Parkinson’s disease stemming from his Vietnam War service. Meisel, 68, died in Texas last March, three weeks after allegedly being pushed out of his wheelchair and beaten by two roommates who are convicted sex offenders. The veteran, who reportedly had trouble feeding himself, weighed just 102 pounds when he died, the autopsy report shows.”

    “Meisel’s friends in Des Moines were shocked to learn after his death that he had been transferred from a nursing home to the rental home, where no professional care was provided. The friends, Gary and Vickie Welch, said he received substantial veteran’s benefits, including a $3,685 monthly pension and free health care, because his illness was caused by exposure to the chemical Agent Orange in Vietnam. They also said he had $70,000 in the bank when he left Iowa in 2013.”

    “A VA administrator, Thomas Murphy, responded to the senators’ inquiry last week, with a letter that said the agency did not see a need for an in-depth investigation.”

    “Murphy wrote that Meisel’s brother-in-law, Larry Gould, had been designated by the VA as his “fiduciary” in 2014. That designation gave Gould authority to spend Meisel’s VA benefits on the veteran’s behalf. The VA said Gould filed a required financial report in August 2015, but failed to provide all necessary documentation. Murphy told the senators the department then requested “specific bank statements and documentation regarding an asset purchase,” to which Gould never responded.”

    much more about this and video at:

    “https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2016/11/04/senators-blast-vas-inadequate-response-disabled-vets-death/93291834/”

  17. Hey Namnibor,

    Friday night special.

    “Senators blast VA’s ‘inadequate’ response to disabled vet’s death”
    Tony Leys , [email protected] 5:51 p.m. CDT November 4, 2016

    “Iowa’s U.S. senators slammed the Department of Veterans Affairs this week for declining to investigate how a former Iowa veteran with severe disabilities wound up stuck in a rundown Texas rental house with four parolees.”

    “The longtime Des Moines resident was disabled by Parkinson’s disease stemming from his Vietnam War service. Meisel, 68, died in Texas last March, three weeks after allegedly being pushed out of his wheelchair and beaten by two roommates who are convicted sex offenders. The veteran, who reportedly had trouble feeding himself, weighed just 102 pounds when he died, the autopsy report shows.”

    “Meisel’s friends in Des Moines were shocked to learn after his death that he had been transferred from a nursing home to the rental home, where no professional care was provided. The friends, Gary and Vickie Welch, said he received substantial veteran’s benefits, including a $3,685 monthly pension and free health care, because his illness was caused by exposure to the chemical Agent Orange in Vietnam. They also said he had $70,000 in the bank when he left Iowa in 2013.”

    “A VA administrator, Thomas Murphy, responded to the senators’ inquiry last week, with a letter that said the agency did not see a need for an in-depth investigation.”

    “Murphy wrote that Meisel’s brother-in-law, Larry Gould, had been designated by the VA as his “fiduciary” in 2014. That designation gave Gould authority to spend Meisel’s VA benefits on the veteran’s behalf. The VA said Gould filed a required financial report in August 2015, but failed to provide all necessary documentation. Murphy told the senators the department then requested “specific bank statements and documentation regarding an asset purchase,” to which Gould never responded.”

    much more about this and video at:

    “https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2016/11/04/senators-blast-vas-inadequate-response-disabled-vets-death/93291834/”

  18. BEN – Have you heard this one?? Sadly the CBOC in Eagle Butte, SD on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservations was closed OCT 1 2016 supposedly the could not find people willing to work there.
    Now to get to the Black Hills Health Care System VA in Ft Meade must travel anywhere from 150-250 miles!
    Worse the Hot Springs VAMC in Hot Springs SD now has no VA-PCP until the end of November 2016 at best so all in that former VA PCP clinic are now illegal ghost panels!! how sweet is this NOT!!!
    NO Care is what the Chief of Staff and hte Director would rather see so they can get larger benefits it seems to veterans here rather than give true proper medical care to any veteran.

    1. More of the effort to close Hot Springs. Difference between 37 miles in the summer for me and over a hundred to Ft Meade which also is understaffed. And that is more of the effort to give Health Net a bigger contract. Your Choice Program privatization lobbyists at work.

      I was assigned to a private psychiatrist in Newcastle who never had time to see me. As bad as Cheyenne VA for cancelling appointments.

  19. The one thing the VA will never deny, make sure it on time and will happily travel hundreds of miles to deliver to that needy Vet is a DNRO Do not Resuscitate Order. 150% approval rate ( VA MATH SORRY).

  20. Hey, Folks.
    Want to get pissed at one of the TV Stations? Want to explode over them not having “Common Sense”?
    Here’s a news article out yesterday.
    Titled;

    “Painfully Bad Taste: ABC Developing Sitcom About VA Hospital”

    by Matt Philbin | Nov 3, 2016 | 2:46 PM EDT.

    If it wasn’t true to life, it would be hysterical!

    1. @Crazy elf:
      The problem with a sitcom about the VA Hospital is it will effectively desensitize American Tax Payers to the REAL PROBLEMS at the VA and I will go as far as the VA Public Relations probably are writing the scripts to magically make all the public VA Problems go away into ridiculous skits based upon solid unfortunate truth.
      Poor taste, indeed.
      To be more accurate the entire setting for this sitcom should be set on all the old “Nightmare On Elm Street” movie sets, just make it a VA Hospital instead.

      1. namnibor,
        I believe some of the “writers” are from the new SNL idiots. Who believe their ‘skits’ are funny. When, in reality, they’re NOT! The new SNL should have been jerked off the air a few decades ago, in my opinion!

  21. I’m going through the same thing as Bend. Didn’t know till I read the story. That’s why the Dr didn’t care whether I had a choice card, or not. I thought I might have filed a complaint; I know, to whom..What to do…

    1. The VHA has attempted to ban me from saying this to anyone at VHA, and I have it on iPad recorded over speaker phone. It got extensive local press coverage. You asked to whom you should complain. I will tell you what VHA has explicitelu informed me is the reason for terminating my psychiatric care again. I know exactly to whom you need to write –

      Write a letter and send it in First Class mail by United State Postal Service to the licensing noard of the physician involved, the licensing board of each nurse who you have seen and whom has reciewed or made entries into your record. Write a letter to the licensing board of each involved in your care and state precisely what happened and how it hurt you. Do not bother trying to find out the licensing board of the pharmacist – they do not have any sort of authority over pharmacists like a medical doctors licensing board does.

      If your charges you make in each letter are authentic and verifiable examples of a “serious” breach of ethics that the board abides by, then the board will take corrective action. This completely bypasses the VHA complaint which is really a conduit for directing vets to the Disruptive Behaviour Committee system which is called “Continuing Care Committee” now. Check it out.

      Once the VHA discovers that you are impacting the licensing of nurses and physicians be prepared for retaliation. They will retaliate. Period. So I warn you that if you are brave enough to face down an unethical doctor, you are taking on “the system”, and you are taking on one of the most ego-centric and reactionary groups that it is possible to assemble. They will call you “loathsome and disgusting”, and irregardless of the service you have done for others in correcting a dangerous doctor, you will be labelled a threat.

      I am proud to have been called “loathsome and disgusting” by a nurse I had never met but who was on my ward in a time of severe emotional distress. I was rated at a GAF of 5 at that moment (look up General Assesment of Function). My only words to him ever up to thqt point were, “Why are you avoiding me (on the ward)”. Those letters to those boards are potent medicine lolz to have that sort of reputation but hey, nobody said the First Amendment would be free of consequence.

      Their licensing state is listed on VHA website boards are easy to find online. All will take online complaints but I urge you to mail it in First Class mail. It works.

  22. Seymore,
    I just watched most of the following video from Fox News ~ “Fox & Friends”.
    Titled;
    “Judge Jeanine Pirro, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
    ~ Fox & Friends 11/04/16
    (FBI, Wikileaks,…’

    There’s a great comment made by Attorney Sean Bigly. Who represented a Navy Seal.
    Then there was an article about the Veterans Administration, where a news source was laughing at veterans, and our plight against the VA. Titled from Fox News “No Laughing Matter”!
    I kept watching, yet it didn’t have it come up. I tried locating the article. Yet, no luck.
    You seem to be able to find shit I, and others on here can’t.
    So, HELP!!!!!

    1. Seymore, I also did not hear which news source was “laughing” at veterans! It wasn’t Fox!

      1. Elf

        ABC Developing Hospital Comedy From Jim Parsons’ Production Company, Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety, November 3, 2016

        ““ABC has given a put pilot order to “Lakeside VA,” a comedy hailing from Jim Parsons’ That’s Wonderful Productions and writer Shelly Gossman, Variety has learned.”

        ““Lakeside VA” follows a C+ team of VA hospital employees who are underfunded, understaffed, and stopped overworking themselves to make up for it years ago, until a new hotshot female chief of surgery steps in to turn them into an A team.”

        “The idea is inspired by Gossman’s personal experiences and first-hand accounts from veterans and VA staff across the country. Her father is a Vietnam veteran, and she worked a day job at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in her early twenties.”

        “https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/lakeside-va-abc-comedy-show-jim-parsons-1201907722/”

        ~~~~~~~~~~~~

        “Painfully Bad Taste: ABC Developing Sitcom About VA Hospital”, By Matt Philbin, MRC NewBusters, November 3, 2016

        “https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/matt-philbin/2016/11/03”

      2. To all the second link at Newsbusters.org just set off my firewall do not go to the second link above. It is a set up to bite anyone who is searching for information on abc sitcom.

  23. Please note that the VA Portland Health Care System Director halted this decision to stop sending a urology specialist to the Bend CBOC that was made prior to his arrival at VA Portland. He wants to make sure that patient needs are taken care of in the community with the goal to not have patients travel to Portland unless absolutely necessary. Dan Herrigstad VAPORHCS Public Affairs Officer

    1. So, the Church has again shifted the clergy around to keep eveyone guessing and everyone pointing the finger elsewhere – and the molestation continues unimpeded. This is VISN-20 tactic out of the book lolz! When the Circuit Court named your CBOC manager a “molester” and myself the “protected” in a restraining order that banned you from calling me at home, you at VA ultimately told me that my molester had “taken permanent vacation to get married.” Hmmmm.

      I wonder how many other people in VA VISN-20 have been named “molester” on a restraining order that simply ordered VISN-20 employees to cease calling me at home? Was that the old Director or the new one that let that happen?

      Irregardless of how embarassing that mess was to VISN-20 you continue to target vets within VISN-20 for removal from care using a variety of tactic. This has been exposed. Tell me sir, are you from America? The Chief of Staff exposed at Roseburg for this sort of nonsense is from Kenya. My Doc is from Phillipines as is his nurse at CBOC. Neither has a native language that matches my own, nor a birthrite of America. Tell me to trust that both have Americas best interest in mind, and I will sing you the Kenyan National Anthem in the native Swahili tongue and we can both hold hands and dance in fairy moonlight….

      Personally, I prefer America’s National Anthem. Do you?

    2. Daniel,

      Thank you for your update. Considering Michael Fisher was appointed director of the VA Portland Health Care System in July and David A. Keele was appointed Acting Deputy Director of VA Portland Health Care System in August 2016. Mr Keele now responsible for the health care system’s administrative operations and resource management. Following Mr. Keele’s transfer from VA Long Beach Health Care System where he has been the Chief Financial Officer since October 2013.

      It is great to hear that in light of Tara Bannow’s article in the Bulletin “Bend VA clinic cutting urology services” posted November 3rd and coverage here on DisabledVetterans.org by Ben Krause. Mr. Fisher has reviewed and canceled the decision made prior to his appointment.

      With Urology so connected with the study, diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis C. The care provide by a Urologist is an essential resource for Veterans.

      Speaking of Hep C. I have several questions that I am sure everyone would like answered if you have a minute.

      1.) In light of the FDA’a action to now include a Black Box warning on the new Direct Acting Antivirals warning that they are possibly linked to reactivation of Hepatitis B in some patients has the VA been reporting all cases where this has occurred?

      2.) In light of research published in Japan, Spain and the European Union showing that treatment with Direct Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C, is not only connected to reactivation of Hepatitis B, but also connected to a high rate of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The research showing that treatment using Direct Acting Antivirals treatment in the best case causes 7.4% and in worst case greater than 40% of patients will develop cancer during treatment or during the observation period for the studies. My question is, Are Veterans being informed of that research before starting any of the these Direct Acting Antivirals?

  24. namnibor, I remember back about 12 years or so, the “mental health facility” in Orlando, giving me “untested, unregulated etc.” mental health drugs. Which, by the way, almost killed me! When I called the “after hours healthcare nurse”, (informing her what was happening), she said, quote: “Stop taking them!”
    When the “VA SHRINK” called the next morning, he said, quote: “They don’t like hearing that!” I aaked, quote: “Who is ‘they’?” He refused to answer!
    From that time on, BEFORE I take any drugs from VA, my wife checks them out. If she finds anything derogatory, (ie: not approved by FDA, etc.) about it, she complains LOUDLY to the VA physicians.
    She is a staunch supporter of my healthcare.
    I don’t know if this helps me. But at least we know the VA will give out drugs not approved by anyone!

    1. P.S.
      I still have the empty bottles. They are my “security” against the VA.
      By the way, these drugs I took are still NOT approved by the FDA!

    2. Dr writes “she had a folder with extensive information on all medications, side effects & list of anti-inflammatory meds, I informed her about using certain meds even if off label as it has originally tested for one condition but works for another & providers use that benefit to treat the other conditions”

      I quote this from my medical notes the doctor wrote this year when I challenged her over side effects from off label prescribing drugs like gabapentin & cymbalta for pain. She didn’t take the time to list any side effects I spoke of from my ‘folder of extensive info’ because she wasn’t listening & she doesn’t care what I have to say. I won’t take any drug of any sort anymore without researching it & reading the reviews.

      1. That’s scary! You just described my doctor? to a “T’. He just prescribed me gabapentin, and just ignored a couple small issues I had and just blew me off and sent me on my way. You don’t suppose they’re being cloned do ya? This is my 5th newest Dr. in about 15 years at the same clinic. They just keep doing the same thing. It IS really freaky they’re just passing through to some where else.

  25. This is true fro a lot of communities. Medical School cutbacks from the VA. So the VA doesn’t get interns, residents and a pay off with service since mid President Reagan. So it is catching up with the country not just the VA. No specialist within 80 miles of me here in Torrington, WY.

    1. You have a subtle way of pointing out the elephant in the room. The real elephant in the room is what America “expects” of our veterans in return for “care”.

      America expects our vets to be the training dummies for kids who become doctors. America points out that VA has “trained” a majority of Americas doctors. “Training” is shorthand for practicing skilld you have not learned. America expects vets to suffer the mistakes so as to provide “training” for Americas doctors, Lem. The elephant is crappng all over now and America is smelling the stink but refuses to look at the elephant. You pointed it out.

      Vets are expected to give themselves over to the service of training doctors for America. The elephant is the inhumanity of it.

      1. Lest you forget: America expects our Vets to be the laboratory rats for dangerous drugs not fully nor properly tested before said drugs are released into the wild for big buck$. This ensures all adverse preliminary nasty side effects are isolated to our Veterans.
        America expects the VA body bags to fully contain neglected Veteran corpses when they liquefy on shelves in Chicago.
        America expects their freedoms to be fought for and defended by Veterans but expects same Veterans to be completely happy with their free VA Care.
        The VA Cares.

  26. The Rand Corporation and the VA concur that if American Tax Payers will provide a few Billion $, we have just the contractor project to comfort our VA Witch Dr.’s from having to travel to Bend, Oregon:

    The Rand Corp. recommends the VA procure a few Billion to construct a long polycarbonate tube between locations, utilizing compressed air to chute the Veterans to and from these locations, much like the bank drive-thru uses with the money canister tube system or a water park without…water, maybe ice. Lots of ice. Rand Corp. realizes the ice will also act as a lubricant to keep the Veterans speedily chuting to and fro and will pay for itself in all the travel pay no longer needed.
    Preliminary beta tests of the system showed two tubes were definitely required rather than original bidirectional solo Veteran Chute, which had unfortunate circumstances when east and westbound Veterans constantly colliding, no matter the increased compressed air pressure, it only resulted in bloody genetic splicing (which these contractors will be certified by the VA to perform).
    The VA Cares enough to also realize that proposed Veteran Chutes will need to be lubricated often in the end. The VA Cares. ~ ~~ ~~~Phhhhhhht~~~ ~~ ~

  27. I grew up in Bend. My brother still lives there though we sold the family home long ago.

    I live on the other side of the Cascades now, in Eugene. Bend is in Central Oregon. Between Bend and Portland the hiway crosses at least three major whitewater rivers – one of them the legendary Deschutes River known for multiple high level white water rapids in succession. On the journey, you also need to traverse the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and the MASSIVE Three Rivers Gorge system which posed a lethal barrier to original settlers. Sheer rock canyon walls plunging to white water rapids that go for miles. Do not go off the highway. Tribal lands are forbidden to the uninvited. Stay on the path.

    As you travel across the waste land parts, I count at least two major canyon systems to cross, one of which is the Crooked River canyon. It is hundreds of feet straight down a sheer cliff plunging into the white water rapids just west of Smith Rocks – legendary sheer face rock climbing. Hostile land. Rattlesnake heaven in that canyon. Lots and lots of rattlesnakes in that canyon. Do not go there.

    As Portland is approached from Bend the terrain gets higher. Really high. Roads become frozen. Mount Hood looms a persistant white cap and the glaciers tracks have carved the land up in stark and almost off worldly contrast. The snowline is beautiful unless your car breaks down or gets stuck i the six to eight foot high snow banks on each side of the road. Snow plow trucks are forbidden from stopping and giving you a ride. Police stop everyone in the winter and force the installation of tire chains and devices in hopes to save some of the people lolz. God does not suffer a fool and many fools have met God on that road in the Winter…

    Many deaths happen on that road in winter and I simply refuse to travel the path anymore. The is beautiful because it is cold and deadly if things do not go right. Mostly fatal car accidents. Some parts of the road are so steep they have emergency truck stopping pits several hundred feet long that a trucker can guide his out of control truck onto (hopefully) and are deep pea gravel that climb steeply up from the road. When a trucker simply cannot stop his multi ton payload from becoming a sled, he attempts to guide the sled onto the deep pea gravel road to stop the thing instead of squishing Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Cousin Joe, and the Vet into red snow. It almost always works…
    The perils of winter travel from Bend to Portland are well known.

    There is no heart in any individual who decided that sick vets must travel such a path to get care. The idea is horrific because ANYONE with a Phd level education could only conclude that the move would eliminate care for those who have earned it. This is no mere technicality that Ben writes about. This is an intentional targetting of vets by VISN-20 with whom I have had a long running and publicly documented dispute in just this type of bullshit. I went public and the feedback was overwhelming – hundreds of vets tell of being flagged, set aside, ignored, or harassed until,they leave VA care at VISN-20. Dozens of newspaper stories over years citing case after case after case of lies, deception, and malfeasance, yet….the wheels keep spinning – just like trying to cross the damn pass to Portland.

    Have you ever tried to get your car unstuck past the snowline on Mount Hood? How about walking for help on the old Indian Reservation? Bring your snake bite kit because the indians were gifted rattlesnake lands to live on and they remember that too…

    Bend is FULL of very wealthy doctors who LOVE to rock climb, white water raft, and snow board and ski the mountains which offer so much snow there are three complete ski resorts within an hour or so. The place is expensive to live in because it is isolated and is a tourist destination. There are LOTS of doctors and major medical facilities. Why does America ask veterans to make such a journey for “care”, when Bend is a mecca of good medical facilities?

    Answer; America does not care.

  28. Definitely sounds right to me. Someone is taking the money and running away.
    Look at McDuck’s record with P&G. Seymore has opened our eyes, as has others on here, about his unethical behavior. Especially when it comes to money!

  29. Sure seems like the VA could have a helicopter to fly-in those Specialists to Bend, Oregon rather than just expecting Veterans and Spouses to traverse dangerous topographical passes and weather situations.

    Instead the VA **magically** CERTIFIES some hack, bops them on the head and ~PRESTO~ you are NOW a Dermatologist. ~~PRESTO~~…kiss that frog and now a full prince of urology. The VA could care less about proper certification and I am betting the VA determined the Bend, Oregon location was infringing on Non-Performance Bonus Cookie Jar so the Cookie Jar **had** to be relocated for more convenience of the FREAKING VA HACKS….not Veterans!!!
    Tell me, just HOW is THIS placing “Veteran’s First”?
    The VA’s heads are in the clouds of their crack pipes obviously….just in time before Veteran Day season. Rat Bastards!
    I am betting there is NO AFGE Employee at the VA that has to circumnavigate such a shitty system as the crow flies. Even after being formally admonished for this practice, still at it like an energizer bunny on crack with head in the cloud.

    1. Isn’t it ironic that the VA would choose an animal like a crow to determine distance and therfor feasability of travel? Instead of “as the crow flies” criteria, why don’t we say “as the horse walks”?

      I grew up on extremely rural farmland, so maybe I have missed something here in life? I was educated in schools too… but it seems to me that I have seen more productive human activity accomplished on horseback than on crowback. Why not say, “A half days ride as the horse walks”? That would pretty much keep really stupid vets from walking off cliffs trying to follow the crow, right?

      Or how about, “as far as a VA administrator lumbers in a day”? I think that would really localize things to less than a few minutes travel for vets, even if the lumbering is straight line distance. It makes as much sense as watching a crow fly to see how long a journey will take. Of course in Oregon even the crows smoke good marijuanna so maybe their path is not all that straight.

      Question: exactly where do they keep the crow they use for testing the routes? I know where they can get a horse, cow, or lumbering VA administrator if they want alternative route planning.

  30. Okay, VA can pay $73M for cloud based computing AND unauthorized BONUSES this year, but cannot afford to maintain BASIC specialty care for veterans, AND they go out of their way to sabotage Choice by making it SO OBSTRUCTIVE by design to use. I have to agree with Reuben, this stinks of RICO perpetrated by the AFGE.

    1. SAME VA CRAP DIFFERT DAY VA BUDGET FOR 2017 182 BILLION $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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