Vets wrongly charged for free care, IG finds

[unhappycamper]

Vets wrongly charged for free care, IG finds
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 5, 2010 15:04:16 EST

Veterans seeking treatment for sexual trauma suffered in the military may have been improperly charged co-payments by the Veterans Affairs Department, according to a new report from the VA inspector general.

The report, issued Thursday, has resulted in a change in billing practices and a promise that anyone charged for mental health counseling or treatment for physical health conditions could get his or her money back.

Free counseling and treatment, mental or physical, is available for male or female veterans for sexual trauma that occurred while on active duty or during National Guard and reserve duties. Unlike disability-related health issues, which veterans often must prove are service-connected, veterans seeking treatment for injury, illness or psychological conditions relating to sexual trauma do not have to provide any documentation or evidence that they reported the incident that caused the trauma.

All veterans can receive the care; they don’t even have to be eligible for veterans benefits or be enrolled in the veterans health care system.

More than 65,000 patients were treated by the VA for sexual trauma in fiscal 2009, according to the report.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/02/military_veterans_sexualassault_020410w/

[WhiteTara]

1. 65,000 treated for sexual trauma in one year?

My god! That is horrible. Serve your country, get traumatized...probably by fellow soldiers.

[unhappycamper]

2. Approximately 1/3 of all females in the military have been either raped or sexually harrassed. n/t

[WhiteTara]

3. How many women serve in our military?

I'm so horrified that women are not better protected against the men with whom they serve.

edited to also ask...what would happen if women just started shooting their fellow soldiers for that shit? Court martial or justified homicide?