VA readying for bioterrorism attack, installing decontamination
centers at hospitals

By Suzanne Gamboa
ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 23, 2002 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20020523-1512-principiinterview.html

WASHINGTON – The government is installing biological decontamination centers at some veterans hospitals as part of a homeland preparedness plan that could cost up to $200 million, Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi said Thursday. 
Principi also said he would consider suspending the VA's policy of open enrollment for all veterans to reduce a backlog of treatment requests and maintain the quality of care provided at agency facilities. 

In an interview with The Associated Press, Principi said the VA should play a key role in homeland defense. The duties will be determined by Congress and the Bush administration, but Principi said he envisions VA hospitals being used to treat victims, store and disseminate medicines, and offer other health care assistance. 

Some VA hospitals already are being outfitted with decontamination units, he said, noting Washington, D.C., is among them.  "We are looking at the large urban areas that may be subject to attack and trying to establish those units in those locations," Principi said. 

The House on Monday passed legislation authorizing $100 million for four new VA research centers aimed at combatting bioterrorism. 

The centers would focus on research and response to potential chemical, biological and radiological terrorist attacks. They also would provide related education and training to health professionals and assist local authorities with laboratory work in time of emergency. 

The VA is taking on the additional homeland defense duties at a time when Principi said the agency is struggling under a "burgeoning, staggering workload" and veterans sometimes are waiting months for care. 

The nation has about 25 million veterans. Although not all use the VA, all are eligible under the open enrollment policy Congress mandated. 

"In the past, the easy decision has been to let everyone come in whether you can treat them or not, just put them on waiting lists," he said. "I have a problem with that. I don't think it's fair to people to say we have open enrollment and put them on a waiting list." 

Principi had proposed charging veterans with higher incomes co-payments totaling up to $1,500 for services, but Congress balked at the idea. Without such a co-pay, the VA will need about $1 billion more to maintain its current level of service, he said. 

President Bush wants $1.5 billion more for the VA in 2003, which would be a record increase for the agency. 

The House has included about $417 million in a supplemental spending bill for VA health care this year. The Senate version includes an equal amount, plus $1.1 billion for pensions and compensation, the VA said. 

That combination may be enough for the VA to continue providing services at the current level, Principi said. But if it doesn't, "we will suspend enrollment for a period of time until we get it under control, then we'll reopen enrollment."