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December 7, 2011 in City
Murray presses for speedier VA care
Clinics with long waits include Spokane center
Murray
(Full-size photo)
The ranking members of a U.S. Senate committee are seeking an investigation into how long it takes veterans to be seen by mental health professionals at Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., also have asked the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs to find out whether the department is telling the truth about mental health care accessibility.
“In addition, we ask that your office evaluate whether VA is accurately and completely reporting the data they collect,” read a letter to Inspector General George Opfer from Murray, the chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Burr, the top-ranking Republican on the panel.
The request follows Senate hearings and a survey of VA mental health providers that showed veterans often had to wait longer than two weeks for an appointment, including a three-week wait at Spokane VA Medical Center.
At a time when U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased demand for mental health services, 70 percent of VA mental health care providers said they did not have adequate staff or space to meet the needs of veterans.
The Spokane facility has reported losing 40 percent of its therapy staff last year, “contributing significantly” to wait times for mental health care.
In addition, Spokane VA mental health providers carry a caseload of between 550 and 650 patients, higher than the VA national average of 515 patients last year.
During last week’s hearings, Murray’s committee heard from a VA psychologist and mental health care coordinator about delays in providing treatment, including care for post-traumatic stress.
The hearings also raised questions about whether VA providers were “using techniques to ensure initial mental health care appointments fall within the VA’s required 14-day window, without providing true access to care at those appointments,” according to a statement from Murray’s office.
Rights panel poorly understood 
DickAdams on December 07 at 10:34 a.m.
Mom in her dirty tennis shoes Murray, was the only member in congress not to return the funneled money she received from felon Jack Abramoff, who appeared on “60 Minutes” recently and was interviewed by Lesley Stahl. The information Jacko released on the 60 minute program, was so shocking that Lesley was truly flabbergasted with almost disbelief on the betrayal of our country by congress. Ambramoff said he had paid 356 congress elected officials and every one of them returned the favor he`d asked for. I sent a LTE at the Spokesman Review either 11/3 or 11/4. My word counter had a bug and showed an incorrect number exceeding the 200 word limit. I resubmitted my letter with less than 200 words. I spoke with Editor Bert Caldwell about my letter and he said it would be published a couple of weeks ago, but IMO it ended up in the waste basket. The SR would not respond to my email about the letter. I think those who follow the SR know that the LTE are rigged. The 60 minuet begs the question, Patty Murray should be interrogated and explain to the voters as to why she was involved with a thug, Mr. Ambramoff in the first place. Murray has no shame.
egotripin on December 07 at 12:23 p.m.
Sorry DA, but I see this VA thing first hand my husband is super depressed and is a VET. It for sure needs to be looked at. I thank Patty Murray for taking the time to address this major situation. I hope she pushes on until it is fixed. There is a major need for more help at the VA hospital here is Spokane !!!
DickAdams on December 07 at 5:10 p.m.
egotripin: I truly sympathize with both you and the hero your married too. All to often Murray shows up at a photo op and many times, believe it or not, she is doing absolutely nothing but takes advantage of being privy to others in government who are in fact doing something as she speaks about the problem and takes credit when credit is not due. I PERSONALLY believe, so many of our do nothings in Washington DC have let our veterans down in the poorly managed VA hospitals throughout the country, but because Americans are upset about the way they do business, and as we speak, there is a concentrated effort to improve the benefits for all our veterans (heroes). I think these people in DC have finally gotten the message and because of it, our medical help for our heroes, who deserve as much help as they deserve. Our country should be giving, and is obligated to help them.
My warmest regards to you and your husband, and my best wishes. Things will improve, I know it.
misjustice on December 07 at 10:39 p.m.
No matter what your politcal persuasion is, it’s a disgrace that our vets have to suffer and wait so long to receive help. PERIOD.