Evidence of meeting #8 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Leigh Ann Skeens  Executive Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Ann Patterson  Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Michel Rossignol  Committee Researcher

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Thank you, Ms. Patterson, for your presentation. In Canada we were experiencing some challenges when a military person was released, either honourably discharged or medically released, and then became a veteran. The indications of the paperwork, the medical files and all of that, moving over to that other department have been quite a concern. Mind you, the government now has realized that was an issue and they are improving upon it.

Can you give us your scenario of what it's like when a military person is leaving your military and then becoming a veteran? In terms of any medical concerns they might have or any other documents they need, how smooth is that transition for them?

5:15 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

We believe it is getting better every day. I mentioned the four polytrauma centres. For the most part, when combat veterans come home and they have severe medical issues, and they're coming from one of our army or navy facilities, they will be transferred initially to one of our four polytrauma centres. We have made arrangements for records to go back and forth. As I said, we have our electronic health record, and now we are working with DOD to make sure that pieces of it are interchangeable. We spend an awful lot of time talking about a single record or how we can establish common services so that the DOD records and the VA records can talk to one another.

We have video conferences now between the staff at each of our polytrauma centres and the DOD centres that typically transfer patients. We have our own social workers who have offices now in DOD facilities and vice versa, so there is an awful lot of talking and communicating and sharing. I mentioned our patient transition advocates. They actually will go and meet with the family, and get to know the family, and serve as a case manager while the family is still at a military facility, and they move with them, actually transfer with them to a VA, so that there is continuity in the transfer.

So we have put an awful lot of effort and initiative into working with DOD to make sure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. It's not perfect. I worked on the Seamless Transition Task Force about five years ago, and I think we have just come so far with how we're able to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

Thank you very much.

Mr. Clarke.

March 11th, 2009 / 5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Patterson, for being with us here today. I'm sorry for the communication problems.

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

Yes, I apologize for that as well.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

From what I understand, you have five years of free health care for all veterans upon return, correct?

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

For combat veterans.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Combat veterans, okay.

When young female veterans return from combat missions, some of them would like to start families. Would these health care benefits also apply to the female veterans?

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

Yes, they do.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Let's say a female veteran reaches about four and a half years, would her benefits roll over in certain circumstances?

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

What happens in the five years is that we encourage everyone to get a compensation and pension exam. Many times veterans, once they have their compensation and pension exam, are eligible anyway. The five years is really without that.

I don't know if you're familiar with our priority system, but actually, in the VA we have veterans in categories 1 through 8. Clearly, all veterans in priority groups 1 through 7...and I can send you those. Priority 1 is 100% service connected, and it goes on down to 0%, non service connected. The priority 8 veterans are non service connected who typically have a higher income level.

We have, over the past couple of years, not enrolled priority 8s. With some of the new initiatives with our new administration we are going to start opening the doors back up, slowly, to priority 8 veterans. So there will be a time I think in the next couple of years when all veterans, service connected or non service connected--which means you don't have to worry about the free care any more--will be able to come in and receive care here.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Thanks very much.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

Thank you very much, Ms. Patterson.

I want to ask you one question before we end our meeting.

Do you have some statistics in front of you on the increase in post-traumatic stress disorder from, let's say, Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and now, with Afghanistan and Iraq?

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

Not in front of me, but I could send you that because I do know where it is.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

Thank you very much. We'll rely on you for that.

I just want to confirm whether you will be forwarding your PowerPoint presentation to us.

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

Yes. I thought you had it. Let me talk with the folks in Public and Intergovernmental Affairs to see if they can get that to you.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

On behalf of the committee, I want to thank you very much for the investment of your time, and also for your willingness to forward extra material to us for answers to our questions. You even went the extra mile and said you'd be prepared to come to another meeting, and we appreciate that.

Again, on behalf of the committee, thank you.

5:20 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

You're very welcome. Thank you.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

Unless there is any further business....

5:25 p.m.

Acting Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Ann Patterson

I will sign off. Thank you.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Sweet

Thank you. And we will sign off too.

The meeting is adjourned.