Congress to investigate Pentagon decision to deny coverage for Brain Injured Troops

[barbiegeek]

Source: T. Christian Miller at ProPublica, and Daniel Zwerdling at NPR

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A key congressional oversight committee announced Friday that it was opening an investigation into the basis of a decision by the Pentagon's health plan to deny a type of medical treatment to troops with brain injuries.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the chairman of the subcommittee on contracting oversight, said she wanted to examine a contract issued by Tricare, an insurance-style program used by soldiers and many veterans, to a private company to study cognitive rehabilitation therapy for traumatic brain injury. Such injuries are considered among the signature wounds of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.


Full story on:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/congress-investigate-pentagons-decision-deny-coverage-brain-injured-troops/

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/congress-investigate-pentagons-decision-deny-coverage-brain-injured-troops/

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This is my first post on Breaking News. I hope I did it right.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. You started out strong.

I can't believe they would deny coverage for a type of brain injury, but even more surprised that someone is investigating that decision.

[saras]

2. What do troops need brains for, anyways?

I'm sure they'll come up with some new pharmaceutical that will keep the troops functioning on the brain stem only.

Much like Mike the Headless Chicken.

[Maine_Nurse]

3. Paper-pushing PIECES OF SHIT

It is long, slow to progress, and expensive and I don't care. It works and needs to be implemented as soon as possible after the injury. These pricks put our soldiers in harms way and now don't want to pay for the consequences? We damned well better pay for our troops' care when they need it. Congress not only needs to investigate this, they need to start calling for dishonorable discharges for any military members responsible for this ridiculous decision. Strip those bastards of their careers and benefits.

[aquart]

4. Anyone who wears an American uniforms should not have to worry about hangnail

Let alone brain injury care. That we have the brass-balled ingratitude to stress our people with this CRAP is unbelievable.

This alone is why we need to take over health care. Denying coverage to our SOLDIERS? Rot in hell, insurance execs. May whatever you buy with your bonus kill you.

It was sinful to say that and I apologize.

[justabob]

6. no kidding

This is disgusting.

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[buckrogers1965]

7. Support the troops.

Even if it takes decades of effort and uncounted expense.

Funny how the same people who scream "Support the troops" are the same ones that want to just throw them away as soon as they come home with an injury.

[lunasun]

10. I was just thinking the same thing

Support war but then not returning injured troops/VA is better mantra for those types to be truthful

[lobodons]

8. Taking after Senator Truman I see!!

Go get those sleeze bass turds!!!!

[DesertFlower]

9. WTF?

[bhikkhu]

11. I have to agree with MacCaskill in the article:

While the treatment may be bogus, as Tricare alleges, we should err on the side of hope and provide it anyway, while more study is done.

There is general agreement that recovery from brain injury becomes less likely the more time goes by without treatment. Its hard to see the cost $50,000 as being a big issue, weighed against the likelihood of lifetime disability on the other side.

[Imagevision]

12. This has to be absurd? (!) What happened to Ginseki? fuckin duh!!!