Charles Bennett writes that it's absurd for him to have to travel to Delaware for needed medial tests under the VA system.
To the Editor:
I just found out I need to have major health tests done. I was hoping to go to a local doctor, instead of traveling out of state to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Delaware. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that a veteran can go to a "local" doctor only if a wait is more than 30 days, or if the patient lives more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.
I live in Cumberland County. The nearest VA facility is in Vineland, 18 miles from my home. However, this outpatient clinic does not perform the tests I need. I'm told I must travel to the Delaware hospital.
Other veterans and even VA staffers have expressed frustration over this absurd interpretation of the rules by the administrators. One VA nurse said: "It's a really ridiculous thing that they did ... But that's the way they're interpreting it ... .(The distance limitations apply) to any building with a VA stamp on it."
This is not a new issue and I'm certainly not unique. Earlier this year, in apparent frustration over health care, a veteran set himself on fire outside the Northfield VA clinic and later died. The VA suicide hotline is a joke. "Thank You for Your Service," an HBO documentary highlighting the life-and-death drama of the VA suicide hotline efforts, won an Oscar just last year.
Personally, I believe the Office of Veterans Affairs is stalling as long as possible to clarify its ruling. I believe they are waiting for Vietnam veterans, such as myself, to die off. How sad is that?
Charles Bennett
Mauricetown
Rein in NRA as we did with Big Tobacco
To the Editor:
Everybody is talking about the presidential election -- which is just what the NRA "owned," do-nothing Congress wants.
This keeps the spotlight off the members so they can continue to line their pockets and play politics instead of governing for the people who elected them. Threatened by the National Rifle Association, they again have failed to pass any viable gun laws.
The congressional majority still wants to abolish Obamacare, has failed to hold hearings for the president's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, and some even want to keep Harriet Tubman off the $20 bill. Republicans facing re-election are even tiptoeing around their presidential nominee just to keep their positions.
How Sad!
Let's do to the NRA what we did to Big Tobacco: Put them in their place.
The majority of constituents should be the ones threating Congress to do its job. Companies may have the money, but we, the people, still have the vote. Let's take back control of our government and let Congress know we put them there and we're the ones who can boot them our=t.
Your boss wouldn't let you keep your job if you do nothing while there. We shouldn't let Congress get away with it, either.
Tim Krajewski
Williamstown
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