Recent legislative budget cuts that have led to the largest budget shortfall that the VA has experienced have left our veterans without essential pain management care. These brave men and women, who have sacrificed so much for our country, are now being denied access to the alternative medicine treatments they desperately need. This petition calls for immediate action to grant funds for long-term access to pain management care via alternative medicine and to update access and eligibility standards for primary and specialty care.

The Problem: 

1) Betrayal of Our Veterans: Recent budget cuts have slashed funding for veterans' healthcare, leaving many without the pain management they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. These cuts are a betrayal of the promise we made to our veterans—to care for them as they have cared for us. Instead, they are being forced to endure chronic pain, mental health struggles, and a diminished quality of life.

2) Denial of Care: Veterans who previously relied on alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and medical massage therapy, are now being denied these crucial treatments. Without these therapies, many veterans are left to suffer in silence, their pain unmanaged, their lives disrupted. The very system designed to support them is now failing them when they need it most.

3) Accessibility for Working-Age Veterans: Many working-age veterans face additional challenges in accessing VA medical care facilities due to long commutes, often up to an hour, and the inability to take time off from work. As a result, they are forced to pay out of pocket for necessary treatments, which is not a sustainable solution.

4) Appropriate compensation for community care service providers. The VA is slowly and systematically reducing the pay provided to service providers in the Community Care Network (CCN). The amount reduced has brought their pay to well below fair market value. This price reduction is discouraging service providers from working with veterans via the VA CCN.

The Impact: Chronic Pain and Mental Health

Chronic pain is not just a physical issue; it has profound mental health implications. Veterans suffering from untreated chronic pain often experience severe anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. Alternative medicine has been shown to effectively manage pain and improve mental health, providing a holistic approach to care that pharmaceuticals often cannot.

Proposed Actions:

1. Reintegration of Alternative Medicine: Reinstate and integrate alternative medicine services into the standard care protocols within the VA healthcare system and allow alternative medicine practitioners to articulate the number of visits within reason. This will ensure that all veterans have access to the appropriate amount of and frequency of treatments, thus supporting each veteran’s individual plan of care.

2. Restoration and Increase of Funding: Allocate additional funding to cover the costs of alternative medicine services, reversing the impact of recent budget cuts and preventing future restrictions on veterans' access to holistic care.

3. Insurance Coverage: Ensure comprehensive insurance coverage for alternative medicine treatments, eliminating financial barriers that prevent veterans from accessing these essential services.

4. Improved Accessibility to Alternative Medicine Services: Develop programs to provide working-age veterans with access to alternative medicine services closer to their homes or workplaces, reducing the burden of long commutes and the need to take time off work.

5. Update Community Care Eligibility and Access Standards: Veterans shall be eligible for the Veterans Community Care Program if the travel time for primary care, specialty care, and mental health services is the travel time is more than 30 minutes to a VA medical facility. Update the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to reflect the 30-minute travel time access standards.

6. Education and Training: Provide training programs for VA healthcare providers on the benefits and administration of alternative medicine, fostering a holistic approach to pain management.

7. Research and Evaluation: Increase funding for research into the efficacy of alternative medicine in treating chronic pain among veterans, using these findings to improve treatment protocols continuously.

8. Compensate Service Providers appropriately. Increase funding for CCN service providers to ensure the providers are sufficiently incentivized to continue working with veterans in the CCN and providing a high level of quality care.

Evidence of Effectiveness:

1. Massage Therapy: Studies demonstrate that massage therapy can effectively reduce pain and improve function in individuals with chronic pain conditions prevalent among veterans.

2. Chiropractic Care: Extensive research has demonstrated that chiropractic care is highly successful in influencing both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, enhancing mobility, decreasing pain, and increasing functional quality of life, providing a potent non-pharmacological alternative for pain relief and improved overall health. 

3. Acupuncture: Research supports acupuncture's effectiveness in reducing chronic pain, including conditions like lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and migraines, which are common in the veteran population.

4. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy addresses pain while promoting rehabilitation, strength, and flexibility, leading to sustained improvements in physical function and life quality.

Conclusion

Providing long-term access to alternative medicine and securing additional funding are critical steps in offering veterans effective, safe, and holistic pain management options. These measures not only improve their quality of life but also reduce the risks associated with opioid dependency. Addressing the accessibility issues faced by working-age veterans ensures that all veterans, regardless of their work commitments, can receive the care they need. We urge the Department of Veterans Affairs and relevant healthcare policymakers to consider this petition seriously and take immediate action to reintegrate alternative medicine into veterans' care plans, restore necessary funding, and improve accessibility.

We appreciate your attention to this critical matter and look forward to your support in improving the lives of our veterans through holistic and compassionate healthcare solutions.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Evidence of the issues above: VA projects $15B shortfall driven by costs for veterans benefits, prescription drugs and a bigger workforce

2. Supporting research articles:

• Supporting Documentation for Petition: Ongoing Chiropractic Therapy for Veterans
• Supporting Documentation for Petition: Ongoing Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy for Veterans
• Supporting Documentation for Petition: Ongoing Medical Massage Therapy for Veterans

3. Testimonials:

• Branden Ward - US Army Veteran
• William H. Ostenberg IV - US Army Veteran