RESOLUTION Whereas upon the advent of statehood, veterans with non-service-connected disabilities will no longer be entitled to hospital treatment in contract hospitals within Alaska; and Whereas the becoming a State will not in any way affect the location of Alaska in relation to the continental United States nor change the mode or cost of travel between Alaska and the other States; and Whereas it is costly and in most cases not feasible to transport veterans to points where Veterans' Administration hospitals are located; and Whereas in most cases the condition of the veteran is such as to require emergency hospital treatment and it would endanger the life of the veteran to be transported over long distances, and in most cases regular carriers would not accept the patient for travel in such a condition; and Whereas veterans with non-service-connected disabilities who are financially unable to pay the costs of hospital treatment will therefore be deprived of this benefit: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Ragnar Myking Post 4352, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States stands opposed to the loss of this benefit to veterans residing in Alaska by reason of obtaining statehood; and be it further Resolved, That every effort be made to restore this benefit through legislation whereby the Veterans' Administration will again be authorized to pay for the hospital treatment of non-service-connected cases in contract hospitals within the State of Alaska. Approved this 11th day of December 1958. TED NANDER WEYST, Post Commander, ARTHUR W. FELTH, Quartermaster-Adjutant, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ketchikan, Alaska. THE AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT OF ALASKA, Juneau, Alaska, April 15, 1960. Subject: Hospitalization of non-service-connected veterans in the State of Alaska. Reference: S. 2201 and H.R. 7910. To: All concerned. GENTLEMEN: The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, veterans in Alaska and the State legislature have strongly demonstrated and pointed out the need for treatment of non-service-connected veterans in the State of Alaska to conform with the treatment that these veterans receive in our sister States. Since Alaska is our largest State in the Union with 586,000 square miles, and with no Veterans' Administration hospital to serve its veterans, we had always relied on section 601 (4) (C) of title 38, United States Code. Under the provisions of the above-mentioned section, the Veterans' Administration regional office in Alaska was able and empowered to contract for medical services for the treatment of non-service-connected veterans in areas where local hospitals and clinics are available. Under the present system, as adopted after becoming a State, the Alaska veterans can use the following facilities: Elmendorf Air Force Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska, and Ladd Field Hospital, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Kodiak Naval Hospital. The latter offers 2 beds while Ladd 5 and Elmendorf 25 beds. For the rest of the State we have available 10 beds in U.S. Public Service hospitals, provided the beds are not being used and does not interfere with their operation in treating their own patients. Of all of the Public Health Service hospitals which might be available to veterans, only Anchorage and Mount Edgecumbe offer adequate facilities. The rest of the facilities are undermanned and in some occasions supervised by a registered nurse. We feel that under the present law, veterans in Alaska are being burdened with additional expenses for non-service-connected hospitalization and treatment that they cannot afford. In many instances the American Legion posts and auxiliary units come to the aid of these veterans by paying their hospital bills and help with providing aid to the veteran's family. In other cases Legion members or sympathetic friends furnish their personal moneys. We often approach the local welfare and State agencies to come to the assistance of this veteran, either by contributing to his hospitalization expense or to feed and help his family meet the daily expenses in maintaining the household. The cost of living in Alaska is high and we would like to point out specifically the cost of hospitalization. We would like to point out some figures obtained from the VA pertaining to contract hospitalization in Alaska. "A. Hospitals now under contract with VA for service-connected cases: Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Palmer, Alaska--- $42.17. "B. We estimate as of March 31, 1960 nine non-service-connected veterans hospitalized in non-Federal facilities for general medical and surgery conditions at no expense to the VA. "C. We estimate as of March 31, 1960 two non-service-connected veterans hospitalized in non-Federal facilities for TB conditions at no expense to the VA. "D. TB veterans who are residents of Alaska are transferred to VA hospitals in Continental United States. To date in fiscal year 1960 three veterans have been transferred to Veterans' Administration Hospital, Walla Walla, Wash. "E. Inpatient facilities in Alaska for neuro-psychiatric patients are practically nonexistant except for temporary care pending transfer to another facility. Veterans with service-connected neuropsychiatric disabilities are hospitalized in contract or Federal hospitals for the neuro-psychiatric condition pending transfer to VA facilities in the continental United States. Veterans with nonservice-connected neuro-psychiatric disabilities are ineligible for any treatment unless they are near a Federal facility where they are temporarily cared for. If committed we try to get a bed for them at a VA facility, otherwise we are unable to assist. This fiscal year whe have transferred nine veterans to Veterans' Administration Hospital American Lake. It should be considered that these veterans probably were kept in jail or in hospitals for which they made no payment util commitment procedures were completed. "F. Bed allocations at Elmendorf and Ladd Air Force Hospitals are adequate as they have been in the past. The additional allocation of beds at USPHS hospitals has not really solved any problem as evidenced by the fact that since the beginning of this new program only 484 bed days have been used in USPHS hospitals as compared with 3,350 bed days used in contract hospitals in a previous comparable period. "Five hospitals are one or two doctor hospitals with limited facilities. Anchorage hospital provides full service but is adjacent to Air Force hospital therefore of no advantage. Mount Edgecumbe Hospital has limited coverage in specialties most frequently used for veteran patients and transportation to this involves several transfers by small aircraft and boat. "G. Both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars officials state that they now believe that Alaska veterans do not receive equal advantages afforded stateside veterans and this belief is concurred in by this office. Distance and transportation are the real sources of the unequality. Alaska does not have the equivalent of a city or country hospital for indigent patients. Hospitalization in the 48 States is generally available in 3 hours by auto while in Alaska hospitals are generally only available by air travel varying from once a day to twice a week." In the recent legislature of the State of Alaska (first legislature, second sess.) House Joint Memorial No. 44 was introduced and passed. This memorial strongly "urges the passage of S. 2201 and H.R. 7910 in order that the Nation will fulfill its obligation to veterans on the basis of need and not on the basis of their accessibility to a veterans hospital." We would like to point out that on September 8, 1959, Robert J. Lamphene, associate deputy administrator wrote a letter to Hon. Olin E. Teague, chairman, Committee on Veterans Affairs, relating the comments by the VA on H.R. 7910, 86th Congress. In part he wrote: "It is true that there is no VA hospital in either Alaska or Hawaii. But arrangements have been made in both to care for war veterans with non-service-connected disabilities in other Government hospitals. In Alaska we have beds allocated for VA beneficiaries in hospitals of the Department of Defense and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. We anticipate that the needs in both Alaska and Hawaii can be satisfied to a reasonable and proper extent by the use of these Government facilities." You may note on item G of VARO Juneau, Alaska, report cited above contradicts the "anticipation" of Mr. Lamphene. In the final paragraph of his letter to Mr. Teague, Mr. Lamphene possibly reveals the author of the communication: "Advice was received from the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the submission of a similar report to the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare on an identical bill (S. 2201).” As department service officers for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the State of Alaska we serve 44 posts and 38 units of the women's auxiliary of both organizations. We also counsel and speak before veterans and their dependents, twice a year while visiting these areas. We feel, after speaking to many veterans throughout the State of Alaska (one-fifth size the area of the United States) that there is a definite need to enact this proposed legislation (S. 2201). Respectfully submitted. JOSEPH M. BRIONES, Department Service Officer, the American Legion. JAMES FENNEL, Department Service Officer, Veterans of Foreign Wars. RESOLUTION Whereas upon the advent of statehood veterans with non-service-connected disabilities will no longer be entitled to hospital treatment in contract hospitals within Alaska; and Whereas the becoming a State will not in anyway affect the location of Alaska in relation to the Continental United States nor change the mode or cost of travel between Alaska and the other States; and Whereas it is costly and in most cases not feasible to transport veterans to points where Veterans' Administration hospitals are located; and Whereas in most cases the condition of the veteran is such to require emergency hospital treatment and it would endanger the life of the veteran to be transported over long distances, and in most cases regular carriers would not accept the patient for travel in such a condition; and Whereas veterans with non-service-connected disabilities who are financially unable to pay the costs of hospital treatment will therefore be deprived of this benefit: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Ketchikan Post No. 3, the American Legion, stand opposed to the loss of this benefit to veterans residing in Alaska by reason of obtaining statehood, and urge that every effort be made to restore this benefit through legislation whereby the Veterans' Administration will again be authorized to pay for the hospital treatment of non-service-connected cases in contract hospitals within the State of Alaska. Approved this 15th day of December, 1958. JOCK M. SMITH, Post Commander. ARTHUR S. TUREK, Adjutant, Ketchikan Post No. 3, The American Legion, Department of Alaska. VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMISSION, TERRITORY OF ALASKA, Juneau, December 11, 1959. Hon. E. L. BARTLETT, Juneau, Alaska. DEAR BOB: Enclosed is a copy of a press release from your office and the office of Representative Ralph Rivers concerning the treatment of veterans in Public Health hospitals in Alaska for non-service-connected disabilities. Although there are hospitals in Bethel, Naknek, Kotzebue, Tanana, and Nome, they are generally poorly staffed and most times have only a nurse to carry out the functions of administrating and treating in the hospital. Juneau, of course, has no facilities other than a Public Health Service doctor at St. Ann's Hospital and the reference to the Nome clinic might be confused in the veteran's mind with an approval for out-patient treatment for non-serviceconnected disabilities. Of course no veterans are authorized out-patient treatment for non-service-connected disabilities, even in the States. The availability of the Mount Edgecumbe Hospital will be a great benefit to veterans in Alaska but since the other Public Health hospitals are located in areas where the majority of the population is native Alaskan they are of little benefit to our overall program, since the people in those areas are eligible for treatment as natives, rather than as veterans. Mr. Lincoln, of the Veterans' Administration, would perhaps be better available to comment on some of the items mentioned as I discussed them with him and also the veterans' representatives when your press release was received. I am sure that the misunderstanding comes from an interpretation of a letter written by Mr. Whittier, Veterans' Administration, in which he expresses the belief that permission to use Public Health hospitals in addition to the military hospitals solves the problem of treatment for veterans in Alaska. I certainly appreciate your kind attention to the veterans problems which you have given for many years, and I am happy to be working with you in any way to improve the situation in Alaska. Sincerely yours, Senator BARTLETT. Thank you, sir. JAMES J. BURNETTE, The concludes my statement, and I am grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to appear. Senator YARBOROUGH. Senator Bartlett, I want to commend both you and Senator Gruening for the brevity of your statements and the thoroughness with which they cover this particular subject matter. I think the State of Alaska is fortunate in having both you and Senator Gruening as its Senators. I have noted in the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee the diligence with which you have presented matters pertaining to the transportation problems of Alaska, and noted on the floor that the Senators from Alaska are diligent in representing the interests and needs of that great extent of land up there. I want to assure you that we in Texas are not at all jealous of your great size, that we personally supported Alaskan statehood actively, and we believe that statehood will give an opportunity for the American people to expand in your great Alaskan State to their full capabilities. I am glad to have you come here and testify personally in this matter and give us such a brief, coherent statement, that so thoroughly explains the bill. Senator BARTLETT. Thank you; and I am confident that Senator Goldwater, having been in Alaska, can give personal testimony to the subcommittee that I do not exaggerate when I tell you that the distances up there for these veterans who are required to be hospitalized are indeed very great. Senator YARBOROUGH. Senator Goldwater, do you have any questions? Senator GOLDWATER. I have no questions but I do want to comment off the record. (Discussion off the record.) Senator BARTLETT. Thank you very much. Senator YARBOROUGH. Are there any other witnesses just on this particular bill? The letter that has been referred to that the committee received from the Governor of Alaska, Governor Egan, dated April 14, will be printed in full in the record. (The letter referred to follows:) STATE OF ALASKA, Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: I understand that your committee plans to hold hearings relating to S. 2201 on or about April 19, 1960. S. 2201, introduced by Senator E. L. Bartlett for himself and Senator Ernest Gruening, is a measure the passage of which I strongly urge. If enacted into law, S. 2201 will give to the veterans of the Armed Forces now living in Alaska and Hawaii an opportunity for hospital care for non-service-connected disabilities on a basis now available to service veterans in the other States. Prior to the granting of statehood to Hawaii and Alaska, the Veterans' Administration had authority to contract with private hospitals in these areas for the care of resident service veterans. With the granting of statehood, this authority was terminated, although there was no change in the physical and geographical conditions which had dictated the original decision to grant this authority. A few brief facts will suffice to point up the justice of the proposed legislation as far as Alaska is concerned. I am equally sure that comparable conditions prevail with regard to Hawaii: There is no Veterans' Administration hospital in Alaska. In comparable areas in the first 48 States, there are an average of 34.4 such facilities. Air transportation, the fastest means of travel from Alaska to Veterans' Administration hospitals elsewhere in the States, is available generally throughout Alaska only once in any 24-hour period. This contrasts with a maximum of 5 hours, travel time required from any point in the other States to a Veteran's Administration facility. On the other hand, Alaska has, favorably distributed from a geographical standpoint, 14 private hospitals whose facilities have in the past fitted admirably into the service veterans' medical care program. The cost of such contract care has been small, in the range, I understand, of $150,000 to $200,000 a year. This is a small sum indeed to provide our service veterans with the hospital care for which they are eligible but which they are now denied only because Alaska became a State. With the earnest hope that you will favorably consider this legislation, I am, Sincerely, WILLIAM A. EGAN, Governor. Senator YARBOROUGH. We have received communications from the two Senators from Hawaii in favor of the bill. They are not personally present, but their statements will be received and printed in the record in full. They, too, are very much interested in this matter, for their State of Hawaii, and are preparing statements to set forth their position fully. |