ROLLINS: Veterans Need Access to Healthcare

Submitted by T.C. Rollins

“We should dwell as much as our dedication to those that have protected our freedom and guarantee their wants are met,” writes T.C. Rollins.

Mississippi is thought for a lot of nice issues. It’s residence to acclaimed writers, entertainers, and athletes; Southern meals and hospitality; and the birthplace of America’s music – the blues, nation and rock and roll. Nevertheless, what makes me most pleased with the Magnolia State is how we deal with our veterans and women and men in uniform.

Mississippi is residence to 165,000 veterans – seven p.c of our inhabitants. These women and men dwell from Corinth to the Coast, and it’s essential they discover the assist they want and deserve in the case of well being care.

As a Mississippian and a Marine, I do know one thing about this. I used to be badly injured in Iraq, as have been pals of mine. We gave voluntarily for love of nation. Our combating women and men deserve care whether or not in Mississippi or elsewhere.

Getting correct care in Mississippi is made extra sophisticated by our excessive poverty price: one in 5 Mississippians dwell in poverty. The terribly excessive poverty price all through the state could make residing right here tough as a result of poverty typically exacerbates well being and healthcare points corresponding to shorter life expectancy, increased toddler mortality, and better demise charges.

Moreover, veterans typically obtain their well being care by means of the USA Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) however don’t dwell close to a VA hospital. Mississippi veterans typically should spend each money and time touring to a VA hospital or go with out care. Neither is right.

Expertise may help clear up this drawback for veterans who don’t dwell close to a VA hospital to allow them to extra simply be seen and handled by medical professionals. Telehealth know-how permits veterans to just about obtain well being care and keep away from touring lengthy distances or going with out care. Telehealth is feasible by means of non-public sector know-how firms partnering with the VA to offer this know-how all through the state. I’ve used the VA’s present telehealth system and it was unbelievable for me.

These private-public partnerships like Philips’ ATLAS program, which stands for Accessing Telehealth by means of Native Space Stations, place this know-how at centrally positioned stations all through the state.

The VA is partnering with the VFW and American Legion in a pilot program that locations telehealth stations inside native posts. Up to now, this program is just working in handful of states. These stations deliver vital care nearer to the place veterans dwell, are wi-fi geared up, and have the know-how prepared so these veterans can simply communicate with their healthcare suppliers. These stations not solely present conventional medication, but additionally psychological well being and diet counseling as nicely.

We’d like extra of those packages all through the nation and particularly right here in Mississippi. These private-public partnerships will be life-changing for our veterans. I’m grateful Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) serves on the Senate Armed Providers Committee and acknowledges the significance of caring for our veterans. He’s additionally a veteran and is all the time advocating for the pursuits of his fellow veterans, and I’m hopeful he and his fellow senators will develop telehealth packages for our veterans.

As a Mississippi veteran, I hope my fellow vets really feel they’re cared for in our state and past. As a rustic, we should dwell as much as our dedication to those that have protected our freedom and guarantee their wants are met, particularly on the most elementary degree of well being care entry.

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Submitted by T.C. Rollins. He’s a Nationwide Choose Advocate Common and beforehand served as State Commander for the Veterans of Overseas Wars, Mississippi.