Oregon Lawmaker Proposes Disabled Veterans Health Care Reform

Oregon would be the first state to provide a comprehensive medical plan for all disabled veterans.

(SALEM) - Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) proposes bold changes to the way Oregon’s disabled veterans receive health care.

“We are now working with the Oregon War Veterans Association to draft a bill that would allow all disabled veterans access to the Oregon Health Plan,” Representative Nelson said.

“Many of our disabled veterans live in rural communities far removed from regional V.A. medical centers.

But because these brave men and women are eligible for V.A. benefits, they are denied use of the Oregon Health Plan.”

For many medical procedures, veterans must travel to either the Portland or Roseburg V.A. medical center in order to receive V.A. funded treatment.

Representative Nelson explained, “this proposal would allow those who have sacrificed so much to receive treatment locally, rather than at clinics half-way across the state.”

Greg Warnock, the President of the Oregon War Veterans Association, believes this plan is long overdue.

“Veterans living in rural communities have suffered long enough,” said Warnock. “If disabled veterans had access to the Oregon Health Plan, their medical needs could easily be met from within their own communities.”

Other veterans groups support the idea. “Allowing disabled veterans to join the Oregon Health Plan would provide a valuable resource for disabled veterans in rural areas,” said Kevin O’Reilly, the government relations director for Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“Many of these veterans have difficulty in accessing health care through the V.A. due to extended travel times. Plus, those with limited incomes can face a huge financial burden meeting travel costs.”

Other states, such as Illinois, provide health insurance programs for certain veterans who have no other form of coverage.

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S.LaMarche February 5, 2007 6:24 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you Mr. Warnock, all questions answered. This should go a long way convincing us to study veterans legislation more thouroughly, and I wish you good luck in your (our) related endeavors.

orwarvets February 5, 2007 11:33 am (Pacific time)

I will add to my comments for one more post. Then I will not read this article again. Please feel free to email me if you have questions. We have nothing to hide, as it has been insinuated. I don;t know who you people are. You could be anyone, with any agenda. You have no names. How do we know you are even vets? PH: We have never asked vets for money and will not ever target vets for charitable contributions. We give to vest, not take from them. We sent a letter informing vets that they have a taxcredit option if they make a contribution to a PAC. They get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit when they contribute to a pac. It costs them nothing. Our other fundraising efforts did not go beyond the state. We raised enough money to sedn all the gifts to Afghanistan and set aside the balance for helping families of monilized troops. We have spent over $10,000 in those efforts in the last two weeks. we are making a real difference in the lives of people who need it. And we do it as volunteers. I spend over 40 hrs per week on veterans issues and advocacy, with no salary for it. OWVA's work speaks for itself, and needs no defense. As a new veterans organization, we get these questions asked frequently. We try to anwer all reasonable questions in a reasonable and timely manner. I respect the questions, just not the forum at this location, as I said. Concerned vet: 1. Navy, Naval Reserves and ORNG From 1978-2000; Free Methodist; Us Bank. 2. I founded OVA in 2002 and resigned late in 2003, soon after the board refused to allow other vets to serve on the board I was the only vet on the board. OWVA started imediately after that. 3. My position was a volunteer postion with OVA and is the same with OWVA. 4. OVA disolved, I believe. I have no communication with Tim Knopp.

P.H.; February 4, 2007 2:59 pm (Pacific time)

My motive has already been explained and I am concerned about your motives.,you are a self appointed director of an orginization of your own design with tens of thousands of veterans addresses and access to contributions from them and others to do with as you choose.,I have contributed to these funds before and was convinced I was ripped off and fear the same for other well meaning people, and I don't feel this venue innappropriate at all., and you didn't answer the questions either., and this information about you though incomplete, was given by you in your 2002 political campaign,and other related items in valley press releases., that is what prompted me in the first place.. There are many veterans advocate groups and they do provide info on request or they get no support from me. Your own website is what caused me to ask., I'd be naive not to! The context of the article has everything to do with it. Leave a reply with my staff.

orwarvets February 4, 2007 10:16 am (Pacific time)

PH: Your concerns and need to ask these questions on a news forum regarding our legislative work on behalf of disabled vets is a matter of concern for me. What is your motive? We just barely finished sending our contribution reciepts, and filing our SOS docs. Form 990 is how we file our public donation/expenditure records, but that will not be completed until later in the year, according to tax law requirements. Our donors are kept confidential, as is the custom of charitable organizations, and our contributions are reported in accordance with all appropriate laws and regulations. Our tax year doesn't end for some time, so we are focusing on legislation right now. Thank you for your questions. I will be glad to continue via email, rather than on this news site, which seems inappropriate to me, considering the conext of this news article. staff@owva.org

concerned vet; February 4, 2007 6:11 am (Pacific time)

Mr.Warnock.,past article in Statesman-Journal(Dec. 15, 2006) says you were a veteran.,pastor and banker. Which service? which church? and which bank?, and how long did you stay with original Oregon Veterans Association? Was the position of director there a paid one? Haven't been able to get their website and don't even know if state rep. Jim Knoph is director anymore. Do you still have contact?

P.H. February 3, 2007 9:20 pm (Pacific time)

To: OrWarVets Assoc. Greg Warnock, president. What concerns me is your financial statements have not yet been made public, as over 60,000 veterans have been sent solicitations to contribute to your political action commitee as well as nearly twenty thousand dollars donated by us Oregonians (did fundraiser extend beyond Oregon?) to get an airlift of gifts to Afghanistan during the western hemispheres Christmas chaos buying frenzy. The bilaws seem to indicate great latititude in dispersion of these sincere donations. Please advise.

orwarvets February 3, 2007 8:11 am (Pacific time)

Awards: working on the site now. Should be this week. Been busy with legislation and PAC reporting, etc. No, about the photo site. ??

awards; February 2, 2007 2:46 am (Pacific time)

OrWarVets,do you know around when will you update your web site?.,and is your president the same man with the photography web site?

orwarvets February 1, 2007 10:05 pm (Pacific time)

OWVA is a war veterans membership organization. We are veteran advocates. Current membership is nearly 600. Website is being updated soon. We have 13 bills submitted to the Oregon Legislature.

Albert Marnell January 31, 2007 6:20 am (Pacific time)

P.H. D., I am still angry at OPEC and the Saudis specifically for the Arab Oil embargo October 22, 1973. The gas rationing and lines, what a horrible time. By the way in December of 1980, spot oil exceeded $40.00 per barrel. The prime rate hit 21% on December 19th 1980. I would be all for invading the real enemy-Saudi Arabia and the little oil rich fiefdoms surrounding it. I remember the Saudis coming to the United States with the money they made from us because they were angry that we sent in troops to help Israel, the Saudis bought up everything under the sun in the most high end places. They bled us and then took that money to buy our products and everything else. As far as I am concerned we should take over the oil fields in Saudi Arabia...to hell with Iraq. You can make Arabia the 51st state and depose all of the sheiks. We could put a Disney World there too. The super rich in the world hide the wealth that they have expropriated from the average person or even from the semi-rich. It is time we took it back. As, I said, there is plenty of money to go around for more than just veterans that need and should have good medical care.

P.H. January 30, 2007 9:58 pm (Pacific time)

sounds perfectly feasible Albert, O.K. I'd willingly pay taxes in support too, so long as accountability factor part of application. Our,(U.S.) tax dollars converted to medical use is overshadowed by a 40:1 ratio,(conservative est.) to defense yearly budget. The "axis of evil" flew into the towers on American aircraft,19 of the 21 conspiritors from Saudi Arabia., and we're in Iraq? ,Afghanistan ?.,and the Iranian border?, unless Tony Snow tells us a "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution " is in effect and we're launching on Tehran too!, and so yeah, why not have medical benfits for everybody rather than as a reward for being rich?., no offense to those doing their share., but I doubt Hillary would wait for treatment in Cook County Hospital.,I doubt she's even been there., and I am studying a medicinal trail as I write.,I'd be one of the "barefoot doctors" out in the bush.,(pardon the expression), kind of like a rasta corpsman, without weapons but ..,participating on another level.

Albert Marnell January 30, 2007 9:02 pm (Pacific time)

Purple Heart, I have a novel idea. Being that we are the richest country in the world and send trillions all over the world, can we take care of everyone who is disabled? I would even add healthcare for everyone. Trust me the money is there, it just gets used by one corporation or another. Pillsbury got millions of federal dollars just to promote the Pillsbury Dough Boy in Latin America. They call it corporate welfare and it is far greater than public assistance which is much needed. The number of cheats is so little compared to what the corporations get. Even MacDonalds received millions to promote chicken McNuggets in Indonesia. But if a citizen needs a jar of peanut butter from social services they are given a hard time and told to go to a local church or food bank. What a country! I do not mean the terrain.

Henry Ruark January 30, 2007 1:48 pm (Pacific time)

This plan to ease probable travel difficulties for vets appears to be simple common sense. Why not treat it so, and examine the proposal itself ? Surely details can be worked out to allow good work to continue via Vets-services while eliminating these difficulties for others.

awards; January 29, 2007 9:00 pm (Pacific time)

to ORWARVET founder Greg Warnock., your photogographer web site lists "The Navy Silver Shutter Award" amongst your accolades.,I'd not heard of it before., and was it an administrative citation or w/ combat V.,(as in "vee") device?

P.H. January 29, 2007 7:30 am (Pacific time)

got on the website for Orwarvets., Greg Warnock.,president, and the downloaded bi-laws and articles of incorporation are seemingly vague, I wasn't able to determine whether you're a disabled veterans fraternity or a lobby group.,clarify please the membership levels and how large member wise is your orginization?

Purple Heart; January 29, 2007 12:09 am (Pacific time)

o.k.,thanks.,and I'll vote accordingly,no offence intended.

ORWARVETS January 28, 2007 10:11 pm (Pacific time)

Donna Nelson is hardest working State Rep for vets in the state. She asked us if she could carry this bill for us.

Purple Heart; January 28, 2007 8:13 pm (Pacific time)

If you're doing this out of honest concern for the welfare of those disabled veterans, then I thank you, if not then I don't like the thought of being patronized or used to keep you in office. How many layers do we need?, and I'll apologize if I'm reading you wrong Mrs. Nelson, till then I'm sceptical.

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Oregon Lawmaker Proposes Disabled Veterans Health Care Reform

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