The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to examine VA’s current
capabilities to provide state-of-the-art care to veterans with
amputations. The Committee heard testimony concerning VA’s proposal to
change procurement processes for prostheses, potentially hindering a
veteran’s ability to acquire the latest prosthetic and corresponding
care and support.
“VA has been struggling to keep pace with the rising demands of younger
and more active veterans with amputations,” stated Rep. Ann Marie
Buerkle, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health. “VA must continue to
provide multi-disciplinary care to maintain long-term and life-time
quality of life. Placing prosthesis procurement into the hands of
contracting officers is alarming. VA needs to match the determination
and spirit demonstrated by our wounded warriors and recommit themselves
to becoming a leader once again in prosthetic care.”
Currently, VA provides care to approximately 42,000 veterans with limb
loss. As of August of 2011, 1,506 servicemembers had experienced
amputations on active duty from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
An additional 2,248 veterans underwent major amputations at VA in 2011.
VA prosthetic costs have more than doubled in the past five years, yet,
VA’s care has fallen behind that of the Department of Defense (DoD).
“Prosthetics
are a truly individualized extension of one person’s body and mobility,
not your typical bulk supply purchase,” stated Jim Mayer, a Vietnam
veteran, double amputee, and wounded warrior advocate and mentor. “When
today’s warriors are referred to VA and seek the newer, cutting-edge,
technologically superior prosthetics they have been accustomed to
[through DoD], will VA be able to meet that demand? DoD centers of
excellence provide state-of-the-art and often newly evaluative
prosthetics that have allowed warriors to thrive, not just in walking,
but also run competitively, compete in the Paralympics, rock climb, play
myriad sports and other endeavors.”
“Prosthetic technology and VA have come a long way from the Civil War
era. Following World War II, veterans dissatisfied with the quality of
VA prosthetics stormed the Capitol in protest. Congress responded by
providing VA with increased flexibility for prosthetic options and
federally funded research and development,” said Buerkle. “As a result,
VA has been a leader in helping veterans with amputations regain
mobility and achieve maximum independence. This is why I am troubled by
VA’s proposed changes in procurement policies and procedures which
shifts the emphasis from the doctors to contracting officers.”
