January 17, 2008 – Both Montana Senators, Jon Tester and Max Baucus, are teaming up to call for an investigation into the state’s VA mental health care.
The senators want the VA’s top investigator to get to the bottom of recent news stories that show veterans from the Treasure state may be getting the short end of the stick on mental health care.
A letter has been drafted to the VA Inspector General, asking for a thorough review of any ‘significant disparity’ in post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD ratings given to Montana’s Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. They also want the Inspector General to review the quality of care for those veterans who suffer from PTSD, and to look into the wait times Montana vets are enduring before they receive mental health care.
The senators are also asking for recommendations on ways to improve the system.