MINNEAPOLIS, April 30, 2008—The MMA is putting together a voluntary panel of physicians to come up with ways to improve the care of soldiers returning from active duty.

The Veterans Affairs health care system is effective but it is overburdened and unable to accommodate the needs of every returning veteran.

Meanwhile, is it apparent that many members of the military returning from tours of duty face serious problems of rehabilitation and re-assimilation into civilian life after years in combat extended deployments.

At its Annual Meeting last September, the House of Delegates passed a resolution calling for these actions:

1. that the MMA create a military liaison to assist in improving the care of military personnel returning from active duty. 
2. that the MMA increase awareness and assist the medical community of Minnesota so that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces returning from active duty who have served our country are taken care of by those they have served. 
3. that the Minnesota Medical Association increase awareness of its membership that military members and their families are often cared for outside the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system through insurance known as TRICARE. 
4. that the Minnesota Medical Association delegation to the American Medical Association submit a request to the AMA asking that the AMA work with TRICARE to decrease the complexities associated with the contracting process and to work to increase the level of reimbursement to physicians.

Physicians interested in taking part in the planning and action team should contact Nilani Jayatilaka at (612) 362-3735 or njayatilaka@mnmed.org.

Resources for physicians

Minnesota veteran resources

SAMHSA veteran resources

TRICARE news

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (a Minnesota National Guard project)

MinnesotaVeteran.Org

Joining Forces (a HealthPartners project)