Veterans Affairs News and Research

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Viewpoints: Medicare no longer 'busting' the budget; a 'nightmare' trying to get coverage in D.C.

You're looking at the biggest story involving the federal budget and a crucial one for the future of the American economy. Every year for the last six years in a row, the Congressional Budget Office has reduced its estimate for how much the federal government will need to spend on Medicare in coming years.

29 Aug 2014

Obama's plans for vets include development of computer chips to stop pain

The novel effort will be spearheaded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Also, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., tells an American Legion convention that Congress will continue to revamp the VA.

29 Aug 2014

Obama vows better health care, other initiatives, for vets, military

Addressing the American Legion's national convention, the president announced steps to expand access to mental health care and an initiative to lower home loan costs for military families. He also promised a new "culture of accountability' at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

28 Aug 2014

New evidence puts into doubt the long-held depression belief

New evidence puts into doubt the long-standing belief that a deficiency in serotonin - a chemical messenger in the brain - plays a central role in depression. In the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, scientists report that mice lacking the ability to make serotonin in their brains (and thus should have been "depressed" by conventional wisdom) did not show depression-like symptoms.

28 Aug 2014

VA watchdog stops short of tying deaths to delayed care

In a report released Tuesday, the VA's Office of Inspector General criticized a Phoenix VA hospital for "troubling lapses in follow-up, coordination, quality and continuity of care." Investigators said that numerous veterans died after receiving substandard care, but they could not substantiate allegations that delays had caused at least 40 deaths.

28 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 27, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about Kevin Counihan, the person who take on the challenge of running healthcare.gov.

27 Aug 2014

Findings encourage investigation on fear, safety and sleep in human PTSD

The effectiveness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment may hinge significantly upon sleep quality, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System in a paper published today in the Journal of Neuroscience.

27 Aug 2014

Obama to outline more veterans health care fixes

In a speech to the American Legion today, the president will announce new steps to improve veterans' access to mental health care and the transition in getting care from the Department of Defense to VA systems.

27 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 26, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations, including a report about how what some say is a health law "drafting error" and other's term a "political miscalculation" could become the measure's trouble spot.

26 Aug 2014

Research to understand how medical marijuana laws may influence overdose deaths

In states where it is legal to use medical marijuana to manage chronic pain and other conditions, the annual number of deaths from prescription drug overdose is 25 percent lower than in states where medical marijuana remains illegal, new research suggests.

26 Aug 2014

Obamacare plays supporting role in campaigns

While the Affordable Care Act is still 'red meat' for conservative voters, Republicans are trying to be more nuanced in how they talk about the issue this campaign season.

25 Aug 2014

Survey of veterans receiving mental health services finds general satisfaction

A survey of U.S. veterans receiving mental health services from the Veterans Health Administration finds general satisfaction, but also significant room for improvement among all areas studied.

21 Aug 2014

Free fatty acids may be effective in treating catheter-related bloodstream infections

Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital, Veterans Affair Medical Center in Providence and University of Rhode Island have found that a free fatty acid, made up of compounds similar to those naturally made in the body, may be as effective at fighting certain infections as antibiotics.

19 Aug 2014

Study suggests mental illness doesn't preclude enjoying life

Schizophrenia is among the most severe forms of mental illness, yet some people with the disease are as happy as those in good physical and mental health according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

19 Aug 2014

New articles shed light on PTSD, other mental health problems

Published today in the open access European Journal of Psychotraumatology is a collection of articles that offer rare and unique insight into the often fiercely debated topic of deployment related PTSD and associated mental health problems.

16 Aug 2014

VA begins discipline process for workers involved in health system waiting scandal

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to recommend action against six employees at veterans' medical facilities in Colorado and Wyoming. Meanwhile, news outlets report on questions about whether offering veterans the option of private care will address some of the VA health system's problems.

16 Aug 2014

Research roundup: Benefits of smaller practices; Rx price growth; fixing Medicare claims reviews

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the Department of Health and Human Services has taken steps to prevent its contractors from conducting certain duplicative postpayment claims reviews - reviews of the same claims that are not permitted by the agency - but CMS neither has reliable data nor provides sufficient oversight and guidance to measure and fully prevent duplication.

16 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 15, 2014

Today's headlines include a variety of updates regarding health policy and the health care marketplace.

15 Aug 2014

Number of Vets being referred to private doctors is rising, VA secretary says

Robert McDonald tells American Veterans national convention that his department is quickly moving to significantly increase the number of veterans referred to doctors outside the system. Also, the department announces that veterans with Lou Gehrig's Disease will be eligible for a government housing program.

15 Aug 2014

Mortality predictors REVEALed for PAH in systemic sclerosis

Elderly men and patients with low baseline systolic blood pressure are among those at a particularly high risk of death from pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis, a US study has found.

14 Aug 2014