EVANS' GAO STUDY RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT VA's CAPACITY

TO MEET VETERANS' PTSD NEEDS



Washington, D.C. - "This report confirms my concerns about VA's capacity and ability to meet the rising demand of returning servicemembers and veterans seeking mental health care services," said Rep. Lane Evans. 



In a report issued today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has failed to implement key recommendations offered by its own Special Advisory Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to improve mental health care for servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other veterans.



Evans, the ranking Democratic member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, requested that GAO determine the extent to which VA has met the Special Advisory Committee's recommendations and its time frames for implementation.



GAO determined that VA has not fully met any of the Special Advisory Committee's 24 recommendations regarding clinical care and education, though it has partially met some.  Moreover, GAO reported that the VA does not plan to fully implement 23 out of the 24 recommendations until fiscal year 2007 or later.  Many of the recommendations are long-standing and were first raised by the Special Advisory Committee nearly two decades ago. 



"I understand that the VA has undertaken some steps to improve services, and I appreciate these efforts.  However, the facts are clear and I am alarmed, frankly, that the Department has failed to fully implement any of the Special Advisory Committee's recommendations, even in light of the projected increases in demand for mental health care services due to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Evans.



"We cannot afford to wait any longer to fully address this critical issue.  I plan to reintroduce my comprehensive veterans' mental health bill that focuses on enhanced education and outreach efforts, improved screening and diagnosis practices, as well as effective treatment and follow-up counseling for veterans and family members.  I also have requested a congressional hearing to examine the efforts and policies of both the VA and Defense Department," Evans continued.



GAO reported that officials at six of seven VA medical centers in its review stated that they may not be able to meet an increase in demand for PTSD services.  The Special Advisory Committee, in its 2004 annual report, noted that VA's capacity to provide PTSD services had steadily eroded prior to the military operations beginning in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Special Committee also noted that PTSD services are lacking in many VA medical centers and are severely limited at community-based outpatient clinics. 



"It is inconceivable to me that as important as this issue is, the VA has yet to even name a PTSD coordinator in each of its health care networks as recommended by the Special Committee," said Evans.



GAO concluded that VA's delay in fully implementing the Special Advisory Committee's recommendations should raise concerns about VA's capacity to identify and address the PTSD needs of all veterans.  GAO recommended that "the Secretary of VA direct the Under Secretary for Health to prioritize those recommendations needed to improve PTSD services and to expedite VA's time frames for fully implementing those recommendations."



To review the Special Advisory Committee's report:

http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/press/109th/pdf/ptsdreport.pdf 



To review the GAO report:

http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/press/109th/pdf/gaoptsd.pdf