HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2016.10.26 - 22634MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #16300
BY: Commissioners Shelley Taub, District #12; Bill Dwyer, District #14; Hugh Crawford, District #9;
John Scott, District #5; Robert Gosselin, District #11; Wade Fleming, District #16;
IN RE: MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHERS FOR VETERANS TO LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES
WHEREAS veterans' willingness to serve our country has safeguarded the freedoms we hold dear and
ensured our nation remains a beacon of hope and liberty to people around the world; and
WHEREAS we live in a land of unparalleled liberty and opportunity, and veterans remind us of the price
that has been paid for our freedoms by the courage and valor of generations of American military men
and women; and
WHEREAS Oakland County is home to more than 70,000 veterans that have made an enormous
contribution to our nation; and
WHEREAS as a grateful nation we should not only remember our veterans service we must uphold our
commitment to providing superior medical care and services as a reflection of our gratitude for the
sacrifices they have endured; and
WHEREAS there are approximately 22 million American veterans as of 2015 eligible for a wealth of
services from The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) according to the House Committee on
Veteran's Affairs; and
WHEREAS the Veterans Affairs Department requires its hospitals to provide care to patients within a
defined period of time (14 to 30 days); however, veterans have an extreme wait; and
WHEREAS as of June 2014, after an internal Veterans Affairs audit, there are more than 100,000
veterans across the nation waiting for appointments at VA facilities; and
WHEREAS government documents (not made public) confirm the delays in care at the William
Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina; and
WHEREAS the hospital knew of its growing waiting list, as obtained by CNN, and documents show that
the veterans wait list for Dorn grew to 3,800; and
WHEREAS at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care facility the wait time lasts for more than a year
with 1,400 to 1,600 veterans in wait; and
WHEREAS according to the Veterans Affairs Department and internal documents at the Charlie
Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center there were 4,500 patients on the wait list; and
WHEREAS thousands of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have not received
care due to erroneous placement in the enrollment system's backlog causing delays that result in the
loss of their five-year eligibility status; and
WHEREAS alternate options need to be provided to detour long wait lists and timeframes, as well as,
maintain eligibility to assure veterans high quality and timely medical care and services; and
WHEREAS a proposed option is the issuance of medical reimbursement vouchers to veterans from
local Veterans Affairs Office, after a two week waiting period for an appointment at a Veterans Affairs
medical facility, to increase the timeliness and maintain eligibility of medical treatment.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
acknowledge the urgent need to support veterans in receiving prompt superior medical care and
services; preserve the quality of life, prevent the advancement and spread of disease, and maintain
eligibility status.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners endorses the
issuance of medical reimbursement vouchers from local Veterans Affairs Offices after a two week
waiting period for an appointment at a Veterans Affairs medical facility.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges Congress, the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the U.S. Senate
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to
support medical reimbursement vouchers to be issued from local Veterans Affairs Offices to Veterans
to receive medical treatment from local physicians.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is directed to submit a
copy of this resolution to Congress, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Michigan Congressional
Delegation, the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Board's legislative lobbyists,
the Michigan House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Michigan Senate Military Affairs and
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CoThmissioner 51411q Taub
District #12 1,
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Commissioner Wade Fleming
District #16
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Homeland Security Committee, National Association of Counties, Michigan Association of Counties,
and the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature.
Chairperson, i move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Commissioner
District * District #
Commissioner Commissioner
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Commissioner Commissioner
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Resolution #16300 October 26, 2016
The Vice Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.