Friday, October 17, 2008

Media pressure worked for dying veteran. What about others?

Family: VA gives in on dying veteran
TAMPA - A day after the St. Petersburg Times reported on his plight, the family of a dying veteran says the Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to provide the care he was previously denied.

The VA will not only admit James Carroll, 64, who is dying of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, to the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa. It will also pick up the full cost of the private medical care he was forced to receive when he was turned away from Haley.

Carroll's sister, Nancy McEndree, said today that several VA officials, including Haley's chief of staff, have contacted her since the Times reported his story Thursday. The entire episode was a "misunderstanding," she said they told her.

A Haley social worker told her the VA will pay all of Carroll's medical bills, McEndree said. The VA originally said he should seek care through Medicare because Haley was full.

Another official said Carroll would be given a tour of Haley, McEndree said, and the chief of staff, Dr. Edward Cutolo, said he would personally monitor Carroll's case to ensure he gets the treatment he needs.
go here for more
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/10/family-va-gives.html

What about all the other veterans this is happening too? Will the media keep on asking questions for the sake of the other veterans?

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