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Loebsack talks healthcare with local veterans

Knoxville Journal-Express - 7/9/2017

Healthcare was the main topic of discussion during a visit between U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack and local veterans.

Loebsack and a few of his staff members met with local veterans, city council member Megan Suhr and Mike Kuhn with the Marion County Veteran Affairs office on Saturday, July 8.

Making sure veterans have access to healthcare was a main concern voiced by both Loebsack and the veterans who joined him for the town hall meeting.

Loebsack commented that while congress is making progress to provide veterans with more resources, decrease the delays in getting healthcare and fixing the problem with backlogs of claims within Veteran's Affairs, there is still progress to be made.

"We're not there yet by any means ? We don't want 22 veterans a day committing suicide," Loebsack said, quoting recent statistics from the VA on veteran suicides.

He continued that he is currently working on the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act, which requires VA medical centers to provide care to veterans who ask to be admitted for psychiatric care who are already enrolled in the VA's healthcare.

If there are no beds to care for that veteran at that facility, that VA center will be required to find them care at a non-veteran facility.

Loebsack said he and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst are also pressuring the Inspector General and the VA to finish the report related to Ketchum's death.

The Honor Our Commitment Act was brought up by Suhr. The bill asks that veterans who were discharged or released from the military under conditions other than honorable receive healthcare services.

Suhr encouraged Loebsack to consider supporting the bill. Loebsack thanked her for bringing the bill to his attention, and that he'd talk to the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

Loebsack also asked about the new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic built in Knoxville. Kuhn said he has not heard any negative comments about the facility. Vietnam War veteran Russell McCormick echoed those remarks saying he thought the CBOC was a great facility.

The VA campus on the west side of Knoxville was also briefly discussed. Loebsack asked it there were any plans for the facility as it continues to become dilapidated.

Former mayor and veteran Don Zoutte said there was an idea to put in a psychiatric facility in a few of the still usable buildings. They could house mental health patients with departments for both veterans and civilians. The cost for the facility could be split between the state and federal government.

Suhr commented that finding doctor's for a mental health facility would be difficult, and there are still many updates to those buildings that would need to be made in order for them to be operational. Both Suhr and Zoutte commented that many of the buildings on that campus are also still unsafe.

After the meting, Loebsack said he will continue to work on the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum bill to help in the effort to prevent veteran suicides, and he would also continue on the healthcare reform bill that is currently making its way through congress.

"[It] is going to create problems for over 20 million people who are on Medicaid. We have veterans in Iowa who are on Medicaid," Loebsack said. "So somewhere between 15,000-20,000 could potentially be negatively affected by these bills."

He continued that he voted against the House's proposed healthcare bill before it was given to the Senate.

"We have to fix the Affordable Care Act. There are problems with it, but we shouldn't just throw the baby out with the bathwater," Loebsack said. "We can't repeal it. I think that's the wrong way to go, but let's repair it. Let's fix it so these veterans who are on Medicaid are not going to be negatively affected as well."

The town hall style meeting was scheduled as a part of Loebsack's "Serving Those Who Served" tour. Loebsack has been hosting town halls with veterans every year for about six years.

"I think it's really important, for me as a congressman, to pay particular attention to veteran's issues, given, as I said, that they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country," Loebsack said. "To me, this is really an important aspect of my job, and an important part of my job."

Prior to visiting Knoxville, Loebsack also visited Newton's American Legion Post 111.