House passes Michaud bill to aid vet caregivers

Kennebec Journal Tuesday, July 28, 2009 LEWISTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Monday afternoon that would provide additional support for veterans receiving home health care. One measure, sponsored by Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democrat representing Maine's 2nd District, seeks to ease the burden on people who give up their jobs or put off their education to take care of a wounded or disabled veteran family member. Michaud, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee, said the issue was brought to his attention by veterans' organizations that he regularly works with. "Hearing some of the financial problems that they have to deal with really concerned me," he said in an interview. One woman from Virginia told the story of how she used to call her husband, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, constantly because she feared he was going to commit suicide, Michaud said. Ultimately she left her job in order to monitor him full-time. "I put forward this legislation to address those needs," he said. The bill is estimated to cost $193 million total over the next four years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. "When you look at the price tag for that time frame, I think it's a very small long-term cost and I also think it's going to save money," Michaud said. "Any time you can take care of them at home versus the VA or local health care provider, you can save." The legislation calls for education and outreach to veteran family caregivers, as well as medical care, monthly financial stipends, lodging and subsistence payments for primary family caregivers, according to the congressman. Because there are no current statistics regarding veteran family caregivers, the measure also calls for surveys at least once every three years to track the services. The CBO estimates about 180 caregivers for severely disabled or wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans would receive stipends by 2012 and more than 17,000 caregivers for veterans of all wars would benefit from other support services by 2014. Similar legislation is slated to be taken up by the U.S. Senate. Michaud said the government has vastly improved veteran care in recent years, due in most part to increased funding and expanding access to health care, particularly in rural states like Maine. "The problem is catch up; the previous administration did not adequately fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, particularly in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and head injuries," he said. But he said the VA can't provide all the support veterans need alone and he is encouraging partnerships with local health providers.

Help for Caregivers of Veterans Advances in House

Wednesday, July 15 2009 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud’s bill, the Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act (CARE Act), advanced through the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The bill would establish a caregiver program to help family and non-family members who provide care for disabled, ill, or injured veterans. The bill is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives soon. “Family caregivers of our veterans have made great sacrifices,” said Michaud, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee. “I have heard from family members who gave up their jobs, delayed their schooling, or made other significant life-changing sacrifices in order to be by their loved one’s side. This raises questions about the VA’s current efforts to help caregivers and whether there are sufficient supportive services in place. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of coordination of caregiver benefits when the service member transitions to veteran status. Supportive services that family caregivers may have depended on during military service are suddenly discontinued when the wounded warrior transitions to the VA system. The CARE Act will help address these shortcomings and provide veterans’ caregivers with some much needed support.” VA does not collect data on caregivers of veterans. As such, the number of family members who provide care for veterans is unknown. However, a July 2007 report released by the Dole-Shalala Commission found that of the 1,730 injured OEF/OIF veterans surveyed, about 21 percent of active duty, 15 percent of the reserve, and 24 percent of retired/separated servicemembers had friends or family who gave up a job to be the caregiver. The caregiver program provides education sessions for improved care giving, counseling, and respite care to the family caregiver, or another individual designated by the veteran. The measure also provides a financial stipend and medical care to eligible primary family caregivers of certain veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF), and reimburses the caregiver for travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for accompanying the veteran to medical appointments. In addition to providing direct support to the caregivers, the CARE Act calls for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to develop a plan for providing enduring support services for caregivers. It also mandates that the VA conduct a survey on caregivers at least once every three years so that collected information will help identify gaps and potential ways to further improve support services and benefits for caregivers.