Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) – a U.S. Army combat veteran – is demanding answers from Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough after receiving calls from other veterans claiming they’ve lost access to their mental health physicians.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been a major concern for military personnel since it was recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1980. Since WWI, shell shock (which carries symptoms of PTSD, according to the National Institute of Health) left young soldiers coming home from war as different men from when they left their hometowns.
For veterans to lose access to mental health could be catastrophic.
Rep. Mast provided a statement regarding this notion of loss of coverage.
“If a veteran has developed trust and a relationship with their mental health practitioner, then they should be able to keep seeing that practitioner,” said Rep. Mast. “It takes time for any individual, not just a veteran, to feel comfortable enough with a doctor to open up about past trauma and afflictions. By cutting off access to their existing mental health providers, the VA is forcing veterans to relive events and situations that have left them with deep wounds. This is not a risk we can afford to take given that the suicide rate among veterans remains unacceptably high and is on the rise.”
Furthermore, Rep. Mast sent a letter to Secretary McDonough with his concerns surrounding this issue.
“Veterans are reporting that the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center is refusing to authorize their requests to continue community-based care. In particular, veterans say the West Palm Beach VAMC will no longer cover referrals to outside mental health care providers,” said Mast. “This is a departure from a long-standing practice. For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has allowed veterans to receive outside care because of an inability to retain adequate mental health professionals. This flexibility allowed veterans to escape the poor experiences they previously had within the VA’s network, including frequent last-minute cancellations for appointments to high-turnover rates among mental health staff.”
Later on in the letter, the Florida congressman would state, “It takes time for any individual, not just a veteran, to feel comfortable enough with a mental health provider to discuss their traumas and afflictions. By forcing these veterans away from their current providers against their wishes, the WPB VAMC would make veterans relive events and situations that have left them with deep wounds. This is not a risk we can afford to take given that the suicide rate among veterans remains unacceptably high and is on the rise.”
Congressman Mast represents Florida’s 21st District, including West Palm Beach.
