A compelling editorial in The Saratogian today supports the need for better long term brain injury rehabilitation care for our troops.
Here is what they have to say:
The veterans health care agencies are not equipped to deal with the number and severity of brain injuries suffered by American troops. There is no easy, quick or cheap solution. But two U.S. senators, New York's Hillary Clinton and Indiana's Evan Bayh, have proposed what even they concede would be only a temporary solution to the problem. Their legislation would let soldiers with traumatic brain injury extend their active duty status for a year after suffering the injury, rather than being retired for medical reasons.
This option would not send the brain-injured troops back into combat, but it would make them eligible for the best available medical care, as reported in the Marine Corps Times, "from the Defense Department and from specialized private care centers, which would be better than care from the Department of Veterans Affairs."
As Sen. Clinton said, "When you serve your country, your country should serve you."
We have to agree with the senators that a temporary fix is better than none with the well-being of troops is at stake.
Hopefully all troops whether on active duty status or receiving veteran's benefits will be able to access the best possible long term brain injury rehabilitation. As I have said on multiple occasions, it just doesn't make sense for the VA to be trying to reinvent the wheel. Their are many brain injury rehabilitation facilities throughout the country that are presently equipped to provide the best possible care to these soldiers. Why the VA doesn't utilize these services is a real mystery to me.