Findings Of The President S Commission On Care For America S Returning Wounded Warriors

Witnesses: Donna Shalala (former Sec. of Health and Human Services), and Bob Dole (former U.S. Senator from Kansas), Co-Chairs, President¿s Commission on Care for America¿s Returning Wounded Warriors; and Joseph Violante, National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans. Statements by: Rep. Bob Filner of CA, Steve Buyer of IN, Harry Mitchell of AZ, Jerry Moran of KS, Ginny Brown-Waite of FL and Jeff Miller of FL. Material Submitted for the Record: (1) Post-Hearing Questions and Responses for the Record; (2) Reports (July 2007): ¿Serve, Support, Simplify: Report of the President¿s Commission on Care for America¿s Returning Wounded Warriors,¿; and Subcommittee Report and Survey Findings. Illustrations.

Why GAO Did This Study. In February 2007, a series of Washington Post articles about conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center highlighted problems in the Army's case management of injured servicemembers and in the military's disability evaluation system. These deficiencies included a confusing disability evaluation process and servicemembers in outpatient status for months and sometimes years without a clear understanding about their plan of care. These reported problems prompted various reviews and commissions to examine the care and services to servicemembers. In response to problems at Walter Reed and subsequent recommendations, the Army took a number of actions and DOD formed a joint DOD-VA Senior Oversight Committee. This statement updates GAO's September 2007 testimony and is based on ongoing work to (1) assess actions taken by the Army to help ill and injured soldiers obtain health care and navigate its disability evaluation process; and to (2) describe the status, plans, and challenges of DOD and VA efforts to implement a joint disability evaluation system. GAO's observations are based largely on documents obtained from and interviews with Army, DOD, and VA officials. The facts contained in this statement were discussed with representatives from the Army, DOD, and VA.