Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
No VA Coverage Of In Vitro Fertilization Leaves Disabled Veterans Struggling To Have Kids
Many veterans depend on the VA for medical care. But some say that they are being denied a chance to fulfill their dreams because there is one battle wound for which the VA does not offer a solution. After two and a half years in the hospital and 30 surgeries, Kevin Jaye is out of the army but still dealing with the VA. (Martin, 8/5)
Despite a big push to hire more staff, Puget Sound VA officials say average wait times for a primary-care appointment rose during the past year from just under eight days to 11 days. But they have had greater success offering Western Washington veterans quick access to mental-health services. They say veterans typically are able to see a mental-health provider with little more than a one-day wait, far better than the national average of almost five days. (Bernton, 8/5)
Cerner Corp. is confident it can handle the mammoth task of upgrading the U.S. military’s medical records – and it already has a model system ready to go, says the company’s president, Zane Burke. (Wise, 8/4)