VHPI Submits Congressional Testimony 

BlogWar on VACongressional Testimony
Written By Russell Lemle

The Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute (VHPI), alongside a slate of eight respected professional groups, submitted invited testimony for a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affair hearing this week and entitled “Protecting Veteran Choice: Examining VA’s Community Care Program.”This followed their submitting an invited statement for a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing, held last week and entitled “Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care.” The multiorganizational statements provide a deep dive into ways that the Veterans Community Care Program could live up to its promise to furnish quality care. The testimony is supported by the followings groups: the American Psychological Association, Association of VA Anesthesiologists, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Association of VA Social Workers, National Association of Veterans Affairs Physicians and Dentists, National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations,  Veterans Affairs PA Association, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute. To read these remarks, click here.

Russell Lemle

Russell B. Lemle, PhD, is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute. From 1981 to 2019, he worked for the San Francisco VA Healthcare System, the last 25 years as Chief Psychologist. 

He’s authored numerous scientific publications and media commentaries, including in The Hill, Task & Purpose, The American Prospect, Washington Monthly, Federal Practitioner, Guns & Ammo and California Firing Line on the prevention of firearm suicide and the looming decimation of the VA resulting from explosive outsourcing of veterans’ health care to the private sector. Dr. Lemle has been widely recognized for his contributions to veterans’ health care policy and firearm suicide prevention, including the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 18 Harold Hildreth Award (2011), Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL) Antonette Zeiss Distinguished Career Award (2013), AVAPL Patrick DeLeon Advocacy Award (2016), the Disabled American Veterans’ Special Recognition Award for Veterans Health Care Advocacy (2020), and APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest- Senior Career (2024). In 2017, the AVAPL Russell B. Lemle Leadership Award was established in his honor. He was a member of the Presidential PREVENTS task force and has testified to Congress on veterans’ mental health policy.

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VHPI Submits Congressional Testimony on VA Community Care