Getting the facts
Veterans’task force visits Ontario
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Monday, August 18, 2008 10:30 AM PDT
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| LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER
Paul Evans (left), a member of the Oregon Governor’s Task Force on Veterans Services, makes a point during a meeting with local leaders in Ontario Friday, as Bruce Buchanan, another member of the committee, looks on. Members of the task force later held a meeting with the general public. |
ONTARIO—Members of the Oregon Governor’s Task Force on Veterans Services arrived in Ontario Friday to listen to local veterans and community leaders to determine what issues are important regarding the availability of health care for those who have served.
Among the task force members in Ontario were Jim Willis, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs and Paul Evans, a member of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s staff.
Visiting with local veterans’ representatives and government leaders Friday afternoon, the task force learned that access to health care is one of the big issues for Malheur County veterans, with transportation to a veterans hospital or other care facilities posing a major barrier.
Malheur County Veterans Service Officer Bill Thomson talked at the meeting about his attempts to get health services established closer to the area than Boise. With the nearest VA hospital in Boise, Thomson said he would have liked to have some services brought to Payette or Fruitland. He was not asking them to come into Oregon, he said.
Another priority for local veterans is the ability to utilize local doctors for their care, using some type of vouchers or other government reimbursement for their care.
Willis said there are three subcommittees, one looking at the veterans who are no more than three years from their service, veterans who are beyond three years involved in their careers and raising families and then the elderly veterans from World War II and the Korean War.
“We will not meet every need that there is,” Willis said, adding that the purpose of the task force is to find where the gaps are and develop a priority and come up with solutions, including additional funding for programs and care.
Evans said the governor takes his role as Commander in chief of the Oregon National Guard very seriously.
“If the federal government is not going to take care of his kids,” he will, Evans said about Kulongoski’s position.
“The need is great,” task force member Jack Heims said.
Heims, who works at a veterans hospital, said there are currently 151 long-term care beds in Oregon for veterans in a facility in The Dalles.
“We need over 800,” he said.
Also, he said the Oregon rates in the top 15 of states with the number of veterans calling the suicide prevention hotline.
The number is 1-800-273-TALK. Also, discussed was the number of divorces among military families.
Heims said it is important for emergency services personnel to be trained in dealing with veterans’ mental health situations.
Willis commented on the programs to have more local veterans clinics around the state, noting there is one in La Grande and others are being established.
Another target is securing legislation to help more veterans get started in business. Willis noted this provides more jobs in the community and helps several veterans.
“Veterans tend to hire other veterans,” Willis said. Another suggestion from Willis was to develop more opportunities to get veterans together.
The task force is wrapping up its townhall meetings and will begin the work of prioritizing the needs and shortening the list to the most urgent needs.
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