WSU to Study Iraq Toxins' Effect
Spokesman-Review
by Bert Caldwell
Research to examine how exposure might damage offspring of soldiers
Washington State University scientists will use a $1.7 million grant to study what multi-generation genetic damage might be done by toxins U.S. troops could encounter in Iraq.
The research using laboratory rats, not humans, will be the first for the military to examine the epigenetic effects of pesticides, herbicides and other compounds, said lead scientist Michael Skinner, director of the university's Center for Reproductive Biology.
Previous studies have looked at the health effects of other substances, notably the Agent Orange used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam, on the soldiers directly exposed, he said, not on their children or grandchildren.
"The science really had not caught up with the trans-generational stuff," said Skinner, one of several WSU pioneers in the field of epigenetic, or multi-generational, inheritance.
Besides herbicides and pesticides – which and in what combinations has not been determined – the study also will look at the effects of explosives residues, he said.
The four-year study will allow researchers to see how any changes in genetic chemistry that develop are passed along through two subsequent generations of rats, he said, noting that only the first two years of research have been funded.
Among the problems that might develop are kidney disease, or changes in the male and female reproductive organs, he said.
If any genetic markers are identified in rats, Skinner said, follow-up research could look at whether they might show up among members of the military as well.
That would be of particular interest to Dave Holmes, interim chief operating officer of the Institute for Systems Medicine, which was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense grant passed through to Skinner.
Holmes' son, Tim Hammond, did two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"They sprayed all kinds of stuff on them," Holmes said.
Although the grant money, the first awarded ISM, will fund work in Pullman, he said the organization's supporters hope any subsequent clinical studies will be done in Spokane.
"There's a lot of excitement about making it happen," he said.
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Military Veterans Express Healthcare Concerns
Harlingen, Texas, March 23, 2010: The Health Care Reform legislation had just been voted and not yet signed into law by the President, yet cyber space was on fire with email concerns about the future of military health care, particularly the programs for retirees.
Depending upon the status of the military individual - active duty or retired - he or she and their dependents are provided healthcare coverage under a variety of programs called TRICARE. Those over age 65 and on Medicare have a supplemental coverage called Tricare for Life.
The email started numbering in the thousands after March 20, when Representative John Carter, the House Republican Conference Secretary sent out a news release that stated House Republicans had managed to turn back a power-grab by Democrats to fold the nation’s TRICARE programs into their national healthcare legislation. Said Carter, “House Republicans forced an immediate vote on the floor to remove TRICARE from the controls by the new federal health exchange which will overturn all existing health insurance plans.”
Carter also stated that once the attempt to place military health care under the provisions of the Health Care Reform legislation was unmasked the entire House voted to exempt TRICARE from the Democrat bill.
“If they tried to go after us once, they will do it again”, said James Fisher, an Air Force retiree from Dallas, Texas. Dozens of messages reflected the same concern.
However, those who administer the various TRICARE programs say they are unaware of any changes or impact on TRICARE of TRICARE for Life programs as a result of the Health Care Reform Legislation. Says the Wisconsin Physician Services, “Please keep in mind that TRICARE, including TRICARE for Life, is neither a health insurance company nor insurance policy. It is a federal health benefit program and therefore many of the rules that apply to private insurance companies may not apply to the TRICARE benefit.”
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also issued a statement to the TRICARE Management Activity web site (www.tricare.mil) “As Secretary of Defense, the health and well being of America’s men and women in uniform is my highest priority. Our troops and their families can be re-assured that the health care reform legislation being passed by the Congress will not negatively impact the TRICARE program, as it already meets the bill’s quality and minimum benefit standards. This was clarified by a vote in the House of Representatives yesterday and is expected to be re-affirmed by the Senate. The President and I are committed to seeing that our troops, retirees and their families will continue to receive the bet quality health care.”
On March 22, Senator Jim Webb, (D, Virginia), a highly decorated Marine and former Secretary of the Navy, introduced a bill that would explicitly state in law that TRICARE and the Department of Defense (DOD) non-appropriated fun (NAF) health plans meet the minimum essential coverage for individual health insurance required by the health care reform bill…” The TRICARE Affirmation Act would provide clarification by changing the tax code to state it in law. A companion bill has already passed the House of Representatives.
The military community is still keeping their fears about the future of TRICARE alive on the Internet. However, it looks as if key individuals of both political parties are involved with making sure there is legislation passed to ease those concerns.
Semper Fidelis
Thomas D. Segel
tomsegel@sbcglobal.net
Three Views on How Healthcare Reform Will Impact Veterans:
TRICARE Meets Health Care Bill’s Standards, Gates Says
American Forces Press Service
March 22, 2010
The TRICARE military health plan meets the standards set by the health care reform bill the House of Representatives passed last night, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a statement issued yesterday.
Calling their health and well-being his highest priority, Gates reassured service members and their families that the legislation won’t have a negative effect on TRICARE, which “already meets the bill's quality and minimum benefit standards.”
“This was clarified by a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives [March 20], and is expected to be re-affirmed by the Senate,” Gates said in the statement.
“The president and I are committed to seeing that our troops, retirees and their families will continue to receive the best quality health care,” the secretary said.
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National Healthcare Bill Betrays Veterans -- [Veterans of Foreign Wars]
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2010 -- The national commander of the nation's oldest and largest combat veterans' organization is furious that Congress is moving ahead with a flawed healthcare bill that does not protect the health programs provided to veterans, servicemembers or their families...
"This is Washington doubletalk at its very worse, and the uproar is going to be huge in America's military and veterans' communities," said Tradewell, who wants Congress to vote against H.R. 4872 today.
The issue surfaced publicly Friday when House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) introduced legislation to explicitly protect Tricare and other Defense Department nonappropriated fund health plans from any health reforms currently under consideration by Congress.
Yesterday, Reps. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) tried to introduce an amendment to H.R. 4872 to protect the integrity and independence of the VA and Defense Department healthcare systems. Buyer is the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and McKeon is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The American Legion commander weighs in:
"I have been assured personally by the President, Secretary of Defense, VA Secretary, Speaker of the House, Majority Leaders, and numerous other Senators and Representatives - as has National Commander David Rehbein before me - that nothing in the national health care reform legislation will change current DoD and VA health care eligibility or practices," said The American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill concerning the outcome of the health care vote on Sunday.
From the Mudville Gazette:
The statement "Tricare Meets Health Care Bill's Standards" is incorrect on at least one point. Under TRICARE, unmarried dependent children are eligible for coverage until their 21st birthday (or their 23rd if a full-time student) - then they're own their own. One of the most frequently touted points of the health care bill is that insurers must offer coverage for 'children' up to age 26 on their parent's policy.
The statement could be wrong in other regards, too - that's just the one I noticed off the top of my head. (I've got 'kids' in and approaching that age range.)
