President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors to Hold Fourth Public Meeting

WASHINGTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following was released by the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors:

   WHAT:   The Commission will hold its fourth public meeting, with a focus           on VA processes regarding access to and availability of health           care and benefits. The Commission’s last public meeting in San           Antonio, TX, addressed traumatic brain injury, patient           rehabilitation, state veterans’ benefits, and private sector           initiatives on behalf of veterans.    WHEN:   Monday, May 14, 2007            10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT    WHERE:  National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center           429 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C.    PRESENTATIONS:   

Presentation 1: “Looking back, Looking forward” — by Dr. Gail R. Wilensky, Commissioner, President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors; and Co-Chair of the Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care

Presentation 2: “Health Information Systems: Requirements, Current Status and Future Vision” — by Dr. Jonathan Perlin, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Quality, HCA, Inc., and Dr. Steven Rappaport, Enterprise Systems Manager for Provider Systems in the Office of Information, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs

Public Comment Period

Presentation 3: “Access and Availability to VA Health Care” — by Brig. Gen. Michael J. Kussman, M.D. (US Army Ret), Acting Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs

Presentation 4: “Access to and Coordination of Benefits” — by Peter Gaytan, Director, National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, American Legion; William D. Rollins, Jr., Director of Field Services, Paralyzed Veterans of America; and, Edward “Randy” Reese, Jr., National Service Director, Disabled American Veterans

Public Comments: The meeting is open to the public. There will be a public comment period lasting thirty (30) minutes. Individuals interested in making presentations will have made a prior, written request to the Commission. Presentations will be limited to five minutes.

Website: For those who cannot attend the meeting, the Commission has set up an official website http://www.pccww.gov/ for the public to share their personal stories about the continuity of care they received from the time they were injured on the battlefield through their transition to civilian life or back to active duty. All stories received by the Commission will become part of the public record.

About the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors: The nine-member Commission was established by the President to “conduct a comprehensive review of the care America is providing our wounded servicemen and women returning from the battlefield.” For more information please visit the Commission’s website: http://www.pccww.gov/.

   Contact: Nicholas J. Graham            703/588-0407 or 571-451-6165 (cell)            Nicholas.Graham@wso.whs.mil  

President’s Commission on Care for Wounded Warriors

CONTACT: Nicholas J. Graham of the President’s Commission on Care forAmerica’s Returning Wounded Warriors, +1-703-588-0407, mobile,+1-571-451-6165, Nicholas.Graham@wso.whs.mil

Web site: http://www.pccww.gov/