Veterans at military retirement home report drastic cuts in medical service

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3382550

Residents of military retirement home allege drastic cuts in medical services

<snip>Spokesman Homer Rutherford says residents aren't whining, but just "want to live." He says cutbacks include the closing of the home's main clinic -- and elimination of X-ray and electrocardiogram services.

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment.

[lebkuchen]

1. BUSH: Help is on the way

Or did he say, "hell?"

[Karenina]

4. Was that a trick question?

:freak: ;-)

[indepat]

2. We all must sacrifice to be made safe in the war against terra

[othermeans]

6. No. We must all be sacrificed to be made safe n/t

[hatrack]

15. We must all sacrifice for more tax cuts in the war against 'murca

Sure hope none of the veterans in this home voted for Bush.

[MADem]

3. You do know how that home is funded, don't you?

They take money out of every ENLISTED/WO paycheck, and there is no opt-out option. If you are enlisted or a warrant, you MUST contribute. They also get United Way and Combined Federal Campaign money, along with money from BAD SOLDIERS AND SAILORS--when they get fined at Art. 15/Mast or at Courts Martial--that is where the forfeiture of pay goes. It falls under the Executive Branch, not the legislative, so it is all on chimpy's shoulders, at the end of the day...

Q and A here: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/heroes/qanda.html

[0007]

5. Doesn't the soldier that lives in the Old Soldiers Home also give up his

social security check to the government?

This administration is in the biggest crime scam of the entire United States history.

[MADem]

12. They have to pay a hefty percentage of their total income, BUT...

their incomes are pretty minescule, by and large (remember, they did not take social security out of military paychecks in the old days, those guys, a lot of them, get the absolute MINIMUM)...it is a really, really good deal. The facilities are incredibly nice, the staff is GOOD--beyond good, they are great, in fact, the meals are fantastic, the activities are pretty peppy, too. They are allowed to keep a reasonable amount of spending money for amusements and personal items, and they can sit around and shoot the shit with people who share their mindset.

The people who live there do not have the resources to afford a facility that is the equivalent of the AFRH--not even close to it. It is like a high end assisted living/nursing home, and income is a factor for admittance. The poorer you are, the better your shot. Most of the people living there would be in a fifth floor rat infested walkup next to a crackhouse if they didn't have the AFRH.

However, there are more people who want in than there is room for them. The waiting list is enormous, and with good reason--it is a great deal if you like that sort of environment, and a lot of those old soldiers, Sailors, airmen and Marines think it is the bee's knees.

[oneighty]

16. I did not pay into SS

while I was in the service. (Eight years) That was taken into account when I went on SS and boosted my SS income. (SS people told me that).

Curious things happen.

180

[meganmonkey]

7. Hey MADem -

I want say thanks for the info - this is the second thread in a row (and there have been many others) where you have clarified stuff, and known the inside scoop, and I just want to say I really appreciate your perspective. So THANKS!

:hi:

[MADem]

8. Anytime!

That AFRH crap crossed my desk several many years ago when they merged the two homes, that's the only reason I know a bit about it...it is an expensive sucker to run, but tradition prohibits dismantling it and sending those folks off to some private facility near a military base (which would be more cost effective, frankly--give 'em a little chunk of cash to help with the costs...only problem with that is that more people would want to take advantage of it--right now, the population is limited by number of spaces available).

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. We support the troops, not the vets. Well, actually, we only buy ribbons

Why do these vets hate America?

[converted_democrat]

10. My uncle.....

Bud fought in WWII and Korea. He has really bad heart problems. The closest vet hospital is about 80 miles away. He went into congestive heart failure and my grandma took him to the local hospital. They stabilized him and sent him to the vet hospital. ( my grandma drove him) The doctors at the local hospital sent word ahead to the vet hospital that Bud needed immediate help and they sent papers to give to the docs at the vet hospital. He waited 6 hours and got no treatment. He went home. 2 days later a doctor finally took a look at his chest ex rays and called my grandma to bring him back in. What the local hospital thought was urgent and life threatening, meant waiting 2 1\2 days for any treatment by the vet hospital. Crazy.

[ozymandius]

11. Some extra special idiots should read this.

I am thinking of those extra special idiots with the bumper sticker "I support President George W. Bush and our troops."

[hvn_nbr_2]

13. They filed suit against Rumbo

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=534&e=3&u=/ap/20050524/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/veterans_health_care

This article has a lot more detailed information than the original one.

[barb162]

14. gee, I wonder why the Pentagon spokesman declined comment

[deutsey]

17. UFPJ March/Direct Action/Civil Disobedience Sept. 24-26

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x16074

[maddezmom]

18. ABCNews:

By ROBERT BURNS
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON May 24, 2005 — Residents of a historic retirement home for war veterans filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday against Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, asserting that the Pentagon chief has imposed excessive and illegal cutbacks in on-site medical and dental services.

The suit was filed in federal court on behalf of the nearly 1,000 residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, one of two such institutions managed by the Defense Department.

The home's chief financial officer, Steve McManus, said in an interview that the residents who filed the complaint do not fully understand the reasons for some of the changes. He said they have not only saved money but also produced efficiencies and improvements.


"We're really trying to improve the benefits for our residents and create the foundation for the financial stability of the Armed Forces Retirement Home," McManus said. The budget for operating the home has fallen from about $63 million last year to $58 this year, he said.

~snip~
more: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=787477&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[FlemingsGhost]

19. I wonder how many voted for Bush ... twice.

Some only have themselves to blame, in my opinion.