Bob Dole searches for facts on health care for wounded veterans

Former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) addressed the National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon Program on changes being made to improve care for wounded veterans. He said he is now involved in Honor Flights, a program to show World War II veterans the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors. He said President Bush accepted some of the blame for the young men and women coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq with serious injuries, and told the commission to do “whatever it takes” to make veteran health care better.

Dole said the commission had one purpose: to address the real problems for care for wounded veterans. He said the commission went all over the country, visiting hospitals and looking for facts. Some of the recommendations he said the commission made were for care coordinators to follow patients all the way through their care, and adding quality-of-life and transition payments in addition to loss of wages payments. He said the additional payments are getting resistance from veteran organizations, and that if they won’t sign off on it, it won’t go anywhere.

Dole said a new National Center of Excellence for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury has been earmarked in Congress. He said this program will cost a couple of billion dollars, but that amount is “cheap compared to the cost in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Dole also commented on the upcoming election. He said it is very important for candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to release his medical records, and that it is too early for him to pick a running mate. He suggests picking a vice president who is outside politics, understands government, and has a good reputation. He joked that if McCain is worried about the age issue, he’ll serve with him.