WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAU) — Another step was taken to clear up veterans care issues at VA hospitals and clinics yesterday. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin was joined at a press conference by the family of Wisconsin Marine Jason Simcakoski and representatives of veterans groups to introduce the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act. The legislation is a bipartisan VA reform legislation aimed at providing safer and more effective pain management services to our nation’s veterans.
Baldwin says the bill takes a common sense approach to address over-prescribing problems at the Veterans Administration. “It provides safer and more effective pain management services to our nation’s veterans. This bipartisan bill will give veterans and their families a stronger voice in their care by strengthening opioid prescribing guidelines and enhancing provider education and training.”
Jason Simcakoski’s father Marv tried to help deal with the problems in the VA and with his treatment, saying it was difficult. “It’s been a tough four and a half years. My son, you know, now after he has passed away, I look back and I think, you know, he really didn’t have a chance. The way the system was, and if something isn’t done to correct it, there’s going to be a lot of other veterans out there that run into the same problems that Jason did.”
The proposed act will strengthen opioid prescribing guidelines; improve coordination and communication throughout the VA; and put in place stronger oversight and accountability for the quality of care provided to veterans. Baldwin says, “Our goal is to put these bipartisan reforms in place to prevent tragedies from occurring to other veterans and their families.”
Over a dozen veterans advocacy groups were quick to support this legislation including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Ian de Planque is the Legislative Director for the American Legion. He says, “The American Legion did a study last year, a survey of veterans going through traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder, and staggering numbers of them were on cocktails of ten or more medications. Anytime you increase the number of medications to that level, there’s more chances of bad interactions.”
Corporal Jason Simcakoski of Stevens Point died August 30, 2014 at the V.A. Medical Center in Tomah, WI. The cause of death was a reaction from the cocktail of medications prescribed to him.
The press conference was held prior to Senator Baldwin’s appearance at the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act was considered.
The bill quickly picked up co-authors and sponsors in the Senate, including Wisconsin’s other U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.
