|
SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE VA
Last week VoteVets.org and CREW exposed an email from a Temple, Texas VA administrator urging psychologists to diagnose veterans with "adjustment disorder" over PTSD, as a cost-cutting measure.
Join %adv-participants-petitionva% Americans in signing our petition! Now, we need the Inspector General to expand its investigation into VA procedure, specifically focusing on how we treat those with mental injuries, including how they are diagnosed, why so many are having claims issues, and a pay bonus program that rewards administrators who quickly move veterans from VA care. You cannot imagine the number of stories VoteVets.org has heard, and others have heard, about veterans not getting the proper diagnosis. Even when they do get it, they have far too many problems getting their just disability payment. Sign the petition below, to help us get the IG to expand its investigation
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , We the undersigned urge the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expand its investigation into the process and manner by which the VA makes a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, , specifically focusing on how we treat those with mental injuries, including how they are diagnosed, why so many are having claims issues, and a pay bonus program that rewards administrators who quickly move veterans from VA care. In the wake of the disclosure by CREW and VoteVets.org of an internal VA e-mail advising VA mental health staff in Texas to consider a diagnosis of adjustment disorder in place of a PTSD diagnosis as a cost-cutting measure, both organizations have received new information from VA employees and veterans attesting to the fact that this practice is widespread and systemic. The VA has adopted incentive programs that, by rewarding those employees and hospitals that distribute lower levels of compensation to veterans, encourage adjustment disorder diagnoses rather than the most appropriate but also more costly diagnosis of PTSD. In addition, the VA's internal computer system permits medical files to be changed by health professionals who did not conduct the initial examinations, a practice that appears to have resulted in changed diagnoses from PTSD to adjustment disorder, even where there is no additional medical evidence to support the downgraded diagnoses. CREW and VoteVets.org also heard from VA employees who suffered retaliation for their failure to support these practices. This is not the way to thank our veterans for their service. It is the job of the Inspector General to fully investigate this matter. We urge the IG to do so, immediately.
Signed by: |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
Click on the following Press Releases to learn more about this issue:
CREW and VoteVets.org Respond to Congressional Testimony from VA on Deliberate Misdiagnoses of PTSD
