Sends letter to Secretary demanding he conduct review of VA practices
Washington, D.C.- After learning that a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official urged VA staff members to avoid diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to save time and resources, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, James B. Peake urging the Department to conduct an extensive review to ensure that this was an isolated incident. In the letter, Senator Casey also urged the Secretary to take whatever steps are necessary to firmly communicate to all VA officials and staff that diagnoses must be made on the basis of sound medical evidence and not based on the Department’s bottom line.
“Our fighting men and women and their families are making great sacrifices for their country and its people. Independent reports indicate that as many as 300,000 fighting men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD, major depression or similar conditions,” Senator Casey wrote.
Senator Casey went on to write, “while I appreciate your immediate repudiation of this tactic, I urge you to conduct an extensive review of the VA’s operations to ensure that this was an isolated incident and not a policy or pattern of behavior across the Department. I also urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to firmly communicate to all VA officials and staff that diagnoses must be made on the basis of sound medical evidence and not based on the Department’s bottom line.”
Senator Casey sent the letter today in light of the email which was sent by a medical health professional at the Temple, Texas Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggesting the facility’s mental health staff should stop diagnosing veterans with PTSD in order to save time and resources.
According to the Washington Post, Norma Perez, a psychologist who helps lead the post-traumatic stress disorder program wrote to mental-health specialists and social workers, “given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out."
Full text of the letter below:
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I am extremely concerned to see news reports that a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official urged VA staff members to avoid diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of the high number of returning soldiers requesting government disability payments for the disorder.
While I appreciate your immediate repudiation of this tactic, I urge you to conduct an extensive review of the VA’s operations to ensure that this was an isolated incident and not a policy or pattern of behavior across the Department. I also urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to firmly communicate to all VA officials and staff that diagnoses must be made on the basis of sound medical evidence and not based on the Department’s bottom line.
As you well know, our fighting men and women and their families are making great sacrifices for their country and its people. Independent reports indicate that as many as 300,000 fighting men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD, major depression or similar conditions. What is even more troubling are reports that many of our brave men and women who suffer from PTSD do not seek treatment because they fear it will harm their careers. The practice of urging VA staff to avoid diagnosing PTSD unfortunately provides one more reason to discourage our veterans from coming forward. This nation, and especially your Department, owes them the most prompt, comprehensive and high-quality care available. Diluted diagnoses to avoid paying returning soldiers’ VA benefits are inexcusable.
Instead of urging officials to refrain from diagnosing serious conditions, the Department should be putting more resources behind serving them, treating them and delivering the benefits and supports they need to make a successful reintegration to civilian life.
I have long advocated for an increase in resources and funding for the VA so more of our veterans can get the quality care they so deserve.
Thank you for your public service and consideration, and I look forward hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Senator Robert P. Casey Jr.
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