Published: April 07, 2009 08:12 am      

Veterans’ meeting with Mikulski closed to public

CUMBERLAND — A Monday meeting between area veterans and Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Ann Brown, director of Martinsburg Veteran Affairs Medical Center, was closed to the public.

The meeting requested by Bruce Whitaker, Region 3 director of the Vietnam Veterans of America, was for veterans who were affected by the transition of mental health care from Re-Entry Associates to the VA’s Cumberland Community-Based Outpatient Clinic only.

Another veteran, who was a member of the VVA local chapter and came to support the Re-Entry program, was not allowed to attend. At the door, he was told only patients affected by Re-Entry were allowed in; wives of Re-Entry veterans were also admitted to the meeting.

At least 30 veterans participated in the 12:30 p.m. meeting at the VVA chapter on North Liberty Street. The meeting ended at about 3 p.m.

After the meeting, a VVA representative told the Times-News that none of the officials was available to comment.

In the summer of 2008, the Martinsburg VAMC began moving toward a contract for counseling services provided by Re-Entry, rather than services being handled on a fee basis. At that time, the VAMC found Re-Entry did not comply with the Veterans Health Administration requirements for a contract.

This winter, the VA received additional funding to expand all programs, including mental health care in rural areas. The expansion meant the VAMC is now able to handle all veterans’ health care needs in-house, eliminating the need to contract out services.

Brown said previously that the VAMC has held multiple meetings with congressional staff, members of the Maryland Vietnam Veterans Association and Maryland Veterans of Foreign Wars Association.

Lisa Wright, press secretary for U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, said the congressman has been following the issue closely.

Wright said the congressman has had an ongoing exchange of information leading up to a Feb. 24 letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. The letter included a petition from 65-plus veterans who want to remain at Re-Entry.

Whitaker had called for a meeting where veterans would be able to voice their concerns directly to elected officials.

Re-Entry is still in a five-year renewable contract with the Veterans Center, another program through the VA. This contract allows Re-Entry to see returning combat veterans for one year.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.