Military Officer - June 2008 - (Page 44)

washingtonscene The joint process gives priority to the original cases, but those remaining require multiple laborious computations. In many cases, these only can be done by hand, because the individuals have had several VA rating changes and have switched back and forth between CRDP and CRSC payments. DFAS and the VA are continuing to identify new retirees who might be eligible for retroactive compensation and are working to develop automated changes that will expedite that process. On a separate topic, medical retirees with fewer than 20 years of service soon will be able to have their CRSC applications adjudicated for combat-related disabilities. As this article was being written, DoD was expected to release guidance to the military services in early May. treatment (including loss of productivity and suicide); and I an evaluation of treatment services available to servicemembers and barriers to that treatment. RAND estimates PTSD and depression cost the nation up to $6.2 billion in the two years after deployment. The study concludes that investing in proper treatment would save $2 billion by helping servicemembers and families to return to work. Researchers stated, “A major national effort is needed to expand and improve the capacity of the mental health system to provide effective care to servicemembers and veterans. The effort must include the military, veteran, and civilian health care systems and should focus on training more providers to use high-quality, evidencebased treatment methods and encouraging servicemembers and veterans to seek care.” The report says psychological injuries are more common than physical injuries among military members and veterans. The real challenge is how to develop enough providers to meet the need. RAND and MOAA think a national campaign is required to: I increase DoD’s and the VA’s in-house mental health capacity and build incentives to attract more providers to see TRICARE beneﬁciaries; I increase incentive, education, and training programs to encourage more servicemembers, veterans, and civilians to enter mental health delivery and counseling ﬁelds; and I reduce the stigma associated with seeking care and instill conﬁdence that getting needed care will enhance, rather than detract from, servicemembers’ career opportunities. MO — Contributors are Col. Steve Strobridge, USAFRet., director; Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret.; Col. Bob Norton, USA-Ret.; Cmdr. René Campos, USNRet.; Cmdr. John Class, USN-Ret.; Col. Phil Odom, USAF-Ret.; Joy Dunlap; Cass Vreeland; and Bret Shea, MOAA’s Government Relations Department. Mental Health Care Shortfall RAND: Proper care will save billions of dollars. R AND Health, an independent, nonproﬁt health policy research group, has released a report titled, “Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery.” RAND says about one in ﬁve veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD or serious depression and another 10 percent experience some level of traumatic brain injury. RAND studied the psychological and cognitive needs of all servicemembers deployed in the past six years. The study included: I a national survey of servicemembers who have been deployed; I economic modeling to estimate the cost of not providing appropriate 44 MILITARY OFFICER JUNE 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - June 2008

Military Officer - June 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire MOAA Member Services Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor MOAA Scholarship Donors Cover Story: Mission to Modernize World War Web Playing to Win Fitness in Numbers Fighting Infection Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - June 2008

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