Shriners Hospitals signs agreement with
Veterans Department to provide free care to
children with defects related to Agent Orange
SPRINGFIELD, MA - U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-Mass.) Friday hailed an agreement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Shriners Hospitals to identify and give free care to children of Vietnam veterans suffering from spina bifida.
Congressman Kennedy, a senior member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, was instrumental in forging the pact to provide medical care to children whose parents were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
"The brave men and women who answered their country's call in Vietnam deserve our support and thanks," said Congressman Kennedy during a press conference and signing ceremony at the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, MA. "We must never turn our backs on our veterans and their families. Today's agreement marks a major step in our commitment to recognize their sacrifice."
During the last Congress, legislation was signed enabling the VA to provide medical benefits, vocational training and cash assistance to children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect linked by researchers to exposure to Agent Orange.
Under the agreement signed today, the VA will refer children with the disease to one of 17 Shriners Hospitals for Children around he country offering orthopaedic care.
"Today marks the beginning of new hope for some of our youngest Americans with spina bifida and their families," said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown. "We don't know how many children of Vietnam veterans many suffer from this disabling disease. But we do know that their future looks brighter today because the Shriners Hospitals for Children will be working with VA in providing them treatment."
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed today, Shriners Hospitals will evaluate children with spina bifida referred by the VA and provide free outpatient or impatient care for patients up to age 18. Beginning in October, for children older than 18 the VA will reimburse non-Shriners facilities for providing care.
Approximately 600 Vietnam veterans' children with spina bifida have been identified by the VA. Estimates of the total number of children range from 1,000 to 3,000.
Graham Trudo, a U.S. Army veteran from Castleton, Vt., was exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam conflict. His son, Stephen, was born with spina bifida in 1979 and has been receiving treatment at the Shriners Hospital in Springfield for eight years.
"The people at Shriners have done a marvelous job," said Trudo, who attended the signing ceremony with his son. "Stephen couldn't receive better care. I hope this agreement helps the children of Vietnam veterans all over the country receive the same quality care that Stephen has gotten. I want to thank Shriners Hospital for all they've done, thank the VA for today's agreement and thank Congressman Kennedy for his work to make today's agreement possible."
George Claxton, chairman of the National Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee of Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., welcomed the agreement as an important remedy to assist the victims of Agent Orange. "Many veterans and their families have been forced into impoverishment by mounting health-care costs associated with caring for their children with spina bifida," said Claxton. "Now they will have additional resources in meeting these needs. A remedy to assist these unfortunnate, secondary victims of the U.S. use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam Was is finally a reality."
"We're very pleased that Shriners Hospitals will be working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet this critical medical need for children with spina bifida," said John D. VerMaas, chairman of the board of directors of Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Everett M. Evans, chairman of Shriners Hospitals' board of trustees.
"Shriners Hospitals are currently treating in excess of 3,500 children with this complex disorder, and by serving as a referral center for children of Vietnam veterans with spina bifida, we will be able to provide the needed care for even more children, at no cost to them, their families, or any governmental agency."
Shriners Hospitals provide free specialized care to children under 18 with orthopaedic problems and burn injuries. At all 22 Shriners Hospitals, treatment is provided totally without cost to the patient, family or any government agency.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), a longtime supporter of Shriners Hospitals and their work in his Springfield district, thanked Shriners, the VA and Congressman Kennedy during his remarks at the signing ceremony.
"By providing free care to children with spina bifida, the Shriners Hospitals are demonstrating community leadership in meeting this important need," said Congressman Neal. "Secretary Jesse Brown and Congressman Joe Kennedy deserve great credit for negotiating this agreement, which will help children and their families all across the country. I am very pleased to be part of today's announcement."