Law Allows VA Health Benefits for Camp Lejeune Water Victims

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2012 – President Barack Obama today signed into law a bill enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide health benefits to veterans and families diagnosed with diseases related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“I think all Americans feel we have a moral, sacred duty toward our men and women in uniform,” Obama said before signing the "Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012" in the Oval Office. The law covers those with conditions linked to water contamination that occurred on Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987.

“They protect our freedom, and it’s our obligation to do right by them,” he said. “This bill takes another important step in fulfilling that commitment.”

The president was joined at the signing by Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant who served at Camp Lejeune and advocated on behalf of affected veterans and families. The first title of the law was named after his daughter, Janey, who died of leukemia at age 9. Mike Partain also attended. The son and grandson of Marine officers, Partain was born at Camp Lejeune and developed breast cancer at age 39. He serves as a community representative for the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

“This bill ends a decade-long struggle for those who serve at Camp Lejeune,” Obama said. “Some of the veterans and their families who were based in Camp Lejeune in the years when the water was contaminated will now have access to extended medical care. And, sadly, this act alone will not bring back those we’ve lost, including Jane Ensminger, but it will honor their memory by making a real difference for those who are still suffering.”

The bill has several other provisions to improve VA health care coverage, housing, education and burial benefits, White House officials said. An initiative on preventing homelessness among veterans renews VA’s authority to work with community organizations and make use of previously underutilized VA properties, they said.

“It is going to have an immediate impact,” Obama said. “It is going to improve access to health care, streamline services in the VA, and it expands support for veterans who are homeless.”

The law also restricts protests at military funerals by prohibiting demonstrations from within 300 feet for two hours before and after services. “I am very pleased to be signing this bill into law,” the president said. “The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground. And, obviously, we all defend our Constitution and the First Amendment and free speech, but we also believe that when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Take Action Now to Nominate Outstanding Female Physicians

The nomination process is underway for the 2013 “Building Stronger Female Physician Leaders in the Military Health System” awards program.  Now in its fourth year, the awards program is a great way to raise the public profile of women in military medicine, to recognize individuals for their outstanding accomplishments and to identify role models who will inspire and lead the next generation of female physicians.

Last year, six military doctors were honored. The senior award winner, Army Col. (Dr.) Anne Naclerio, currently heads the Army’s Women's Health Task Force. After receiving her award, Naclerio spoke to Health.mil and said when it comes to leadership, actions speak louder than words.

“I think a lot of leadership and mentoring is not what you say, but what you do. I have found that I have grown in leadership and mentorship through example.”

The time to take action to nominate the next group of female physicians from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Public Health Services is now.  Applications are due to the appropriate service branch point of contact by Sept. 7, 2012. After reviewing nomination candidate packages, each service may forward up to five junior and three senior packages to the MHS Chief Human Capital Office. One junior winner per service and one overall MHS-wide senior winner will be selected. 

Learn more about the selection criteria and process.

Download the nomination form at http://www.health.mil/Libraries/MHS_Female_Physician_Awards_Documents/MHS_Female_Physician_Award_NominationForm_June_2012.docx.

Panetta, Dempsey Call on Lawmakers to Protect Military Personnel AccountsBy Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Calling service members key to U.S. national security, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey urged Senators to do right by them and their families.

The secretary and the chairman testified today before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee. Panetta told lawmakers military personnel are the linchpin to American defense strategy.

“For all the weapons we have, for all the technology we have, frankly, it’s the men and women in uniform that are the strongest weapon we have for the future,” the secretary said. “And so we want to sustain the family assistance programs, the programs for wounded warriors, the basic support programs for our troops and their families.”

Dempsey noted that the government needs to keep faith with service members who have kept faith with the country. “Keeping faith also means appropriate compensation for our troops,” he said. “This budget proposes modest reforms to military pay and benefits. However, it does not place the burden of budget cuts on the shoulders of our men and women in uniform. There are no freezes or reductions in pay. And there is no decrease in the quality of health care received by our active duty members and medically-retired wounded warriors.”

Still, both understand some cost cutting is inevitable and, in some cases, desired. “I’ve got to focus on some savings in the compensation area,” Panetta said. “This is an area that's grown by 90 percent, and frankly, we have got to be able to find some cost constraint in that area.”

The budget calls for military pay raises over the next two years, but for a limit in the out-years.

There needs to be some control on TRICARE health costs as well, he said, given that military health care costs currently run above $50 billion a year.

“We’ve also looked at the idea of a retirement commission to look at retirement provisions for the future,” the secretary said. “We’d like to grandfather, obviously, benefits for those that are presently in the force, but we do need to achieve savings in this area, as well, for the future.”

Dempsey as well told senators the Defense Department needs practical reform to deal with escalating personnel costs. “We must make our health care system more sustainable,” the chairman said. “Otherwise, we risk both the quality and the continuity of care. We can ensure its viability in ways that are fair and modest.”

Guatemala: Arkansas Air National Guard engineers build partnerships, medical facilities Courtesy Story

118th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TACTIC, Guatemala  -- Airmen with the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Civil Engineering Squadron recently began constructing a key addition to a medical clinic in Tactic, Guatemala, as part of Beyond the Horizon 2012, a joint foreign military, humanitarian and civic assistance mission is led by U.S. Army South.

The 188th CES is currently in the middle of a three-team, six-week rotation and will spend most of its time constructing a 1,500 square foot structure at the Centro de Salud medical clinic that will function as a women's clinic and will include four exam rooms, one lab, three bathrooms, a maternity ward and a waiting room.

"We're extremely proud of our civil engineers and the great work they're doing in Guatemala," said Air Force Col. Mark Anderson, commander of the 188th Fighter Wing, the parent unit of the 188th CES. "Their professionalism, dedication and skill shows in everything they do. The construction they're accomplishing in Guatemala furnishes valuable training for our Airmen. It will also provide an important medical facility and function as a key community resource for many years to come."

The project greatly expands the medical capabilities of the clinic.

"We're doubling the size of the facility," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Ites, site project manager and a member of the Missouri Army National Guard’s 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, who is overseeing the project. "It will give them the opportunity to see more people, which will also allow them to better focus their medical assets."

The Centro de Salud clinic has been open for more than 20 years but lack of space has hampered its ability to provide care for the local community.

"This will give them better opportunities to serve more people and expand their capabilities," said Master Sgt. Bob Haag, a heavy equipment operator with the 188th CES. "I'm humbled to have the opportunity to make the quality of life [in Tactic] better."

Hugo Hernandez, the clinic's director for the past eight months, said during his tenure the clinic has assumed a 24-hour operating schedule. Hernandez said the around-the-clock operation has led to a vast increase in patient admittances with numbers nearly tripling since 2009. He estimated that 25 percent of all Tactic citizens are now born at his clinic.

The clinic has struggled to keep up with the increasing number of patients, said Hernandez, who expressed his thanks for the U.S. support exhibited through the project.

"Last year, we only had three beds," Hernandez said. "To get this project done locally, especially this big and this quickly, would be very difficult."

Ites said the 188th CES will supply the bulk of the workforce and will be responsible for the majority of the site's progress.

And many in the unit are excited about the mission.

"This is a great opportunity to gain experience working with the people of Guatemala," said Senior Airman Lance Hobbs, a heavy equipment operator with the 188th CES.

The entire operation, which spans from April through July, will feature construction projects at two schools, construction of three medical clinics, establishment of a short-term veterinary aid station and establishment of several medical care points, each able to render aid to more than 500 Guatemalan civilians.

NMCPHC Unveils Web-Based Relaxation Tool Kit

From Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) unveiled its web-based "Relax Relax Tool Kit" April 24 designed to help users manage daily stress using relaxation techniques.

The tool kit was developed through collaboration with team members from NMCPHC's Health Promotion and Wellness Department, Wounded Ill and Injured (WII) Program, and the Information Management Department.

Eight categories of traditional relaxation strategies were selected to develop this scientifically proven tool kit. The strategies, widely accepted by health promotion and other public health experts, include traditional approaches such as breathing, imagery and meditation.

"Learning to relax and to de-stress is part of being resilient," said Dr. Mark Long, NMCPHC Health Promotion and Wellness staff member. "Being able to navigate the daily stresses of life and to perform highly and perhaps even at your peak level is what we strive for."

The tool kit contains a wide variety of relaxation exercises selected on their ability to appeal to a diverse audience. The exercise tracks are easily downloadable to portable media devices for individual use anytime, anywhere. A CD version is also available through NMCPHC.

"No matter what stress continuum zone you may be in at the moment- green, yellow, orange or red, the tool kit offers many selections to move you back toward the green zone," said Lateef Khursheed, staff member with NMCPHC's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.

To test the usefulness of the tool kit, focus-group sessions were conducted with Sailors and Marines who are currently receiving care or treatment through the WII program. Suggestions from these focus groups were implemented to improve the quality of the Relax Relax Tool Kit.

Based on the input of WII service-members, case managers, and others, the tool kit will continue to evolve as an effective and proven relaxation and sleep resource.

VA Increases Mental Health Care Workforce

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will add approximately 1,600 clinicians -- to include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers -- as well as nearly 300 support staff, to its existing mental health workforce of 20,590, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced yesterday.

The staff increase is part of an ongoing review of the VA’s mental health care operations, Shinseki said.

“As the tide of war recedes, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to anticipate the needs of returning veterans,” he said. “History shows that the costs of war will continue to grow for a decade or more after the operational missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended. As more veterans return home, we must ensure that all veterans have access to quality mental health care.”

VA’s ongoing comprehensive review of mental health operations has indicated that some VA facilities require more mental health staff to serve the growing needs of veterans, officials said. . It projected the need for the 1,900 additional mental health staff largely because of increasing needs for the Veterans Crisis Line, as well as an expected increase in compensation and pension and integrated disability evaluation exams.

“Mental health services must be closely aligned with veterans’ needs and fully integrated with health care facility operations,” VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel said. “Improving access to mental health services will help support the current and future veterans who depend on VA for these vital services.”

VA will allocate funds this month from the current budget to all 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks across the country to begin recruitment immediately. Under the leadership of President Barack Obama and Secretary Shinseki, officials said, VA has devoted more people, programs, and resources toward mental health services to serve the growing number of veterans seeking mental health care from VA.

Last year, VA provided specialty mental health services to 1.3 million veterans, officials said. Since 2009, VA has increased its mental health care budget by 39 percent and has seen a similar increase in the number of veterans receiving mental health services, as well as a 41-percent increase in mental health staff.

VA has enhanced services through the integration of mental health care into the primary care setting, developing an extensive suicide prevention program, and increasing the number of Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers. VA’s Veteran Crisis Line has received more than 600,000 calls, resulting in more than 21,000 rescues of veterans in immediate crisis.

“The mental health of America’s veterans not only touches those of us at VA and the Department of Defense, but also families, friends, co-workers, and people in our communities,” Petzel said. “We ask that you urge veterans in your communities to reach out and connect with VA services.”

Veterans in need of immediate help can receive assistance by calling the Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (push 1) or texting 838255.