Dear Sgt. Shaft,
I would like you and your readers to be aware of the efforts of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to assist America's paralyzed veterans.

Last fall, when the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in VA spinal cord injury centers and the pending re-nomination of Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer as VA Under Secretary of Health for a four-year term, it turned to members like Aubrey Crockett, president of PVA's Mid-South Chapter. Mr. Crockett traveled to Washington to discuss our concerns with a number of senators, including Senator Sessions.

Senator Sessions was sympathetic to Mr. Crockett's concerns and went to work to address the issues raised by PVA. In a matter of days, Senator Sessions notified the VA that he planned to place a hold on Dr. Kizer's nomination unless PVA's issues were addressed. On the Senate floor, he noted PVA's concerns and promised positive action to remedy the situation.

Within a week, the senator received a commitment from VA and Dr. Kizer to improve VA's specialized care programs for our nation's veterans.

For his leadership and support, PVA recognized Senator Sessions with an award of appreciation on March 3.

PVA thanks Senator Sessions for his determined stand to gain high-quality VA health care for veterans with spinal cord injury or disease, and owes him our gratitude for his concern and actions. His personal involvement will result in improvements necessary to provide high-quality health care for America's paralyzed veterans.

Homer S. Townsend, Jr.
National President

Dear Homer:
A kudo also goes out to Senator Sessions for his deepest concern for all our nation's veterans, especially those with serious disabilities. In a recent letter to Secretary West, Senator Sessions also voiced his concern regarding care for our nation's blinded veterans. As you know, Homer, the VA medical bureaucrats have a magical way of defining full-time equivalency VA employee capacity, defining FTE frozen positions as non-existent. Kizer and company have thumbed their noses at Congress, making like Houdini in order to report that all is well with the once-prestigious VA blind rehabilitation program. The truth is, very simply, the blind rehabilitation program length of stay has been cut almost in half and VA beds and employees serving blinded vets have been cut dramatically. Senator Sessions also stated his concern about cuts in nursing personnel assigned to the Birmingham VA facility. As we know, Homer, this is happening throughout the VA medical system, and as the good Senator declared in his letter to Secretary West, "I am concerned that these cuts in personnel mean reduction in bed capacity, curtailment of hospital stays, and overzealous cost cutting initiatives because of decentralization of programs management. I hope these concerns are unfounded. However when added to curtailment of medications, such as Viagra, to qualifying veterans, then I have to pause and reconsider if the Department is fulfilling its stated responsibility to America's veterans."

And, talking about Viagra, Homer, ...

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am a 100% service connected veteran with a Special K award for my sexual dysfunction as a result of injuries sustained during my Vietnam tour. My VA physician has recommended that the new drug, Viagra, may help me and has assured me that it would be safe to try. However, VISN2 (Albany, New York) has no buy policy in effect. Since the appeal process for non-formulary use of Viagra at VISN2 requires veterans to be service-connected for the condition, I requested an eligibility review. The eligibility review validated my service-connected disability for erectile dysfunction and found it compensable for the condition. I submitted this report along with my VA physician's non-formulary drug request to the Network Therapeutic committee. However, the committee turned down my request for the trial use of Viagra and prohibited me to seek this treatment at another facility where Viagra is provided.

How can the VA turn down a request for treatment when I am eligible for this care?

Frank C. in Albany

Dear Frank:
You and other vets are getting stiffed by the VA medical system, however, not in the way you passionately desire. Issuance of a VA Viagra policy is a pharmacy farce theatrically directed by the bottom-line, "the Almighty dollar." While the Department of Defense has its Viagra policy in place and is issuing Viagra to those with erectile dysfunction, the VA's Viagra Task Force Committee has just now drafted the following recommendations for the VA Under Secretary of Health's approval:

• Due to safety concerns, Viagra should not be on the National Formulary or approved for use in VHA at this time with the following exception:
• Those patients currently receiving Viagra that are reevaluated and fit appropriate guidelines developed by the Medical Advisory Panel for Pharmacy Benefits Management may continue on Viagra at current Network policy and clinician/patient discretion;
• A cooperative study that specifically addresses the safety of Viagra use in the veteran population should be conducted as soon as possible; and
• A Policy Review board review to reassess VA policy about Viagra should occur in six months.

And get this, one advisor suggested that patients could pay discounted prices for Viagra through the Veterans Canteen Service. From monies collected, the VCS would reimburse the VAMC for the cost of the drug and the cost of dispensing it. Net cost to the VHA would be zero. This way, continuity of care for the patient would be preserved and prescription reviews in the VA Pharmacy are retained.

Very simply, Frank, as Senator Bob Dole smilingly praises his use of Viagra, the VA is telling you and other veterans to just keep a stiff upper lip.