Disability claims for veterans can take up to five years to process. Why? The VA has been plagued with problems for decades. Funding shortages, poor coordination, and a range of complex health issues faced by service members have all created barriers for vets seeking care. Amid increased attention on the problems, are improvements on the horizon?
HOST:Â Lori Townsend
GUESTS:
- Dr. Timothy Ballard – director at AK VA health system
- Carrie Epperson – Service center manager – Seattle region
- Samuel Hudson – AK VA Public Affairs
- Statewide callersÂ
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Alaska VA Healthcare Facebook
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Patient Complaints
Kathleen Johnson, Patient Advocate; 907-257-5449 or Kathleen.Johnson1@va.gov
Samuel Hudson, Public Affairs Officer; 907-257-5490 or Samuel.Hudson@va.gov
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Voluntary Services (Volunteering at VA Facilities)
Jeanne Fox, Chief Voluntary Services Officer; 907-257-4949 or Jeanne.Fox@va.gov
Alfredo Stokes, Voluntary Services Assistant; 907-257-4839 or Alfredo.Stokes@va.gov
Participate:
- Call 550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast
- Post your comment before, during or after the live broadcast (comments may be read on air).
- Send email to talk@alaskapublic.org (comments may be read on air)
LIVE Broadcast:Â Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.
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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
