BECKLEY, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosted a roundtable discussion at the Tamarack Conference Center in Beckley with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, including Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carolyn Clancy and representatives from four West Virginia VA clinics. Senator Capito led a discussion focused on enhancing veterans’ access to care and the specific challenges facing veterans in West Virginia.
“We talked about a wide array of problems and solutions today, from mental health care and opioid prescription rates, to improving appointment wait times, travel and hurdles that come with being such a rural state. I called this group together to have a candid discussion about what is working at West Virginia’s VA facilities, what isn’t working and what solutions are needed,” said Senator Capito.
“VHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carolyn Clancy assured us that the Greenbrier County CBOC is in the process of being replaced, and the VA is working to accelerate this process. We also discussed efforts to make sure our veterans know what care is available to them, including options outside of the VA. While many challenges remain, I was encouraged by the open dialogue today, and I am hopeful that it will lead to improved care for our veterans.”
Additional topics discussed at the roundtable included: how to improve utilization of the VA Choice Card program; further educating veterans and providers about new VA services; increasing resources to address opioid overprescribing and enhancing mental health services offered by the VA. Participants in today’s roundtable acknowledged the need to improve service from third party providers on a national level for the VA Choice Card program and agreed to work toward improving partnerships and relations with local professional schools and health providers.
Senator Capito also provided an update on legislative reforms she has pursued to assist West Virginia veterans since taking office in January. Senator Capito has co-sponsored and introduced several bills, including the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act and the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act, and an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that promotes the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s under the TRICARE program. All of these legislative efforts are aimed at ensuring veterans receive the quality of care they deserve.
Participants at the roundtable included Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Veterans Health Administration Chief Medical Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Martinsburg VA Medical Center Director Tim Cooke; Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center Associate Chief of Staff Dr. Richard Kaufmann; Beckley VA Medical Center Director Karin McGraw; and Huntington VA Medical Center Director Brian Nimmo.