Tester's State of Veterans in Montana Report

State of Veterans
in Montana:
A Regional Breakdown
Billings
NovemberVA
11,FACILITIES
2015
LOCAL
Since my first days in the United States Senate, I have
been working to keep the promise that our nation
makes to our sons and daughters when we send them
to war. We ask so much of our servicemembers and
their families when they deploy, and we cant forsake
them when they return from battle.
This report also captures a few stories of real veterans

who have contacted me to help them navigate the VA,
access benefits, transition to civilian life, find housing,
employment and education. Then it summarizes what
can be done legislatively to fix the issues that they
struggle with every day.
Thats why I have compiled my State of Veterans

in Montana report, to help shed some light on the
triumphs and tribulations that veterans face each and
every day.
As Montanas only member of the Veterans Affairs

Committee, I have introduced and passed legislation,
written letters, held hearings and brought three
VA Secretaries to Montana to see the challenges of
providing care to veterans in a rural state like Montana.
As the Ranking Member of the VA Appropriations
Subcommittee, I authored legislation that invests in
veterans health care and direct medical services.
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
This report serves as a reminder that our duty to do

right by our veterans should be as unwavering as the
bravery and courage of those who have responded to
the call of duty.
Many of these efforts have improved the lives of

veterans in Big Sky Country, and Im proud of that. But
there is still so much more that we need to accomplish
to do right by Montanas veterans. In some cases, wait
times right here in Montana are unacceptable.
This report highlights the demographics of Montanas

veterans population. With about 100,000 veterans
living in Montana, making up 10 percent of the states
population, these veterans are our brothers, sisters,
children and grandchildren. They are our family and
friends and they represent the very best of Montana
values.
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
Overwhelmingly, Montana veterans tell me that once

they get in to see a doctor at the VA, the care and
attention they get from doctors and the VA staff is
usually very good. But getting in the door can be all too
frustrating for our veterans.
That is why this report takes a regional look at veterans
care - highlighting wait times by VA facility and total
appointments scheduled. All of the data was pulled
from the VA itself and shows us that the demands for
VA services are growing and that has a direct impact
on wait times. It indicates that in some areas we are
making progress, while in others there is still significant
work that needs to be done.
After being plagued with mismanagement and scandal, I

know the VA has been under a microscope and it should
be. Its responsible for honoring a promise, and when
that promise is broken we need to do more than just
say sorry. We need to fix it.
Which is why Im pleased to release this report. I
hope it will increase transparency and government
accountability and ensure that in Montana, every day is
Veterans Day.
To all the veterans who have served Montana and our
country, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Table of Contents
A Snapshot of Montanas Veterans Population .............................. 6
Service Regions ............................................................................ 7
Local VA Offices ............................................................................. 8
Billings ......................................................................................... 10
Bozeman ...................................................................................... 12
Butte ............................................................................................ 14
Glendive ....................................................................................... 16
Great Falls ................................................................................... 18
Helena.......................................................................................... 20
Kalispell ....................................................................................... 22
Missoula ...................................................................................... 24
Index of Legislation ..................................................................... 26
A Snapshot of Montanas Veteran Population

LOCALOfVAthe
FACILITIES
99,646 veterans
8,445 are female
in Montana:
91,201 are male
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
and their age breakdown down is:

15,728
25,197
31,224
20-29 30-39 40-49
50-59
60-69
70+
5,283
12,181
10,033
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
24,334 are
peacetime veterans
75,312
are
wartime
veterans
Of the 100,1
living in Mo
Septemb
WWII
3,693
Korea
6,746
Vietnam
32,579
Gulf War
13,044
Post-9/11
12,127
Served in
multiple wars
7,123
All statistical information used in this report is from:

http://www.va.gov/vetdata/Veteran_Population.asp
http://www.va.gov/health/access-audit.asp
Service
Regions
Billings
7
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
8
TOTAL # OF 3
APPOINTMENTS
Contact My Offices
1
1. BILLINGS
4. GLENDIVE
7. KALISPELL
2900 4th Ave N, Suite 201

Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 252-0550
122 W Towne
Glendive, MT 59330
Phone: (406) 365-2391
8 Third Street E
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 257-3360
5. GREAT FALLS
8. MISSOULA
1 E Main Street, #202

Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: (406) 586-4450
119 1st Avenue N, #102

Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: (406) 452-9585
130 W Front Street

Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 728-3003
3. BUTTE
6. HELENA
* WASHINGTON D.C.*
125 W Granite, #200

Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-3277
Fax: (406) 782-4717
Capital One Center

208 N Montana Ave, #202
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 449-5401
311 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2644
AVERAGE WAIT
2. BOZEMAN
TIMES
FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
Montana VA Clinics
Anaconda VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
118 East 7th St, Suite 2A, Anaconda, MT 59711
406-496-3000
Hamilton Telehealth Facility

299 Fairgrounds Road, Suite A, Hamilton, MT 59840
406-363-3352
Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

1775 Spring Creek Lane, Billings, MT 59102
406-373-3500
Havre VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

130 13th St, Suite 1, Havre, MT 59501
406-265-4304
Bozeman VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

300 N. Wilson, Suite 703G, Bozeman, MT 59715
406-582-5300
Kalispell VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

31 Three Mile Drive, Suite 102, Kalispell, MT 59901
406-758-2700
Cut Bank VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

#8 Second Avenue SE, Cut Bank, MT 59427
406-873-9047
Lewistown VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

629 NE Main St, Suite 1, Lewistown, MT 59457
406-535-4790
Fort Harrison
3687 Veterans Drive, PO Box 1500
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636-1500
Libby Contract Care Facility

308 E 3rd St, Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-6285
Glasgow VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

630 Second Avenue S, Suite A, Glasgow, MT 599230
406-228-4101
Miles City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

210 S. Winchester, Miles City, MT 59301
406-874-5600
Glendive VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

2000 Montana Avenue, Glendive, MT 59330
406-377-4755
Missoula VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

2687 Palmer Street, Suite C, Missoula, MT 59808
406-493-3700
Great Falls VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

1417 9th St South, Suite 200 and 300, Great Falls, MT 59405
406-791-3200
Plentywood Telehealth Facility

440 West Laurel Avenue, Plentywood, MT 59254
406-765-3718
Billings
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

1775 Spring Creek Lane, Billings, MT 59102
406-373-3500
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
0
6
1
2000
4000
1/1/15
3961
3244
Days
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10/15/15
1
20
Billings
2.4
0.6
Mental Health
2.5
1.5
Primary Care
3.1
Speciality Care
A Snapshot of Billings Veteran Population

18,083 veterans live in the Billings region
1 Yellowstone County - 14,018
4 Stillwater County - 800
7 Golden Valley County - 94
2 Big Horn County - 882
5 Rosebud County - 773
8 Treasure County - 83
3 Carbon County - 868
6 Musselshell County - 528
9 Petroleum County - 37
Local Veteran Case Studies

WHAT JON IS HEARING...
An Iraq war veteran from Billings frequently accesses care at the local VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
However, access to mental health care services and support is much more of a challenge because of the VAs
ongoing struggles to recruit and retain mental health professionals.
WHAT JON IS DOING...

Partnering with the Billings Clinic to advocate for the creation of a psychiatry residency program to provide
critical medical training to mental health professionals locally.
Brought the VA Secretary to Billings to hear first-hand about how the VA can partner with local providers to
expand access to care, particularly mental care, for Billings-area veterans.
Authored landmark legislation - The Delivering Opportunities for Care and Services (DOCS) for Veterans Act
to provide the VA with greater tools to help recruit and retain qualified medical professionals, specifically
mental health professionals, in rural America, and to expand mental health residency programs.

A homeless Vietnam veteran from Billings in his 60s is struggling to overcome the worsening physical effects of
Agent Orange, and his trips to the doctors are getting harder and more expensive when he cant get to the VA.
He reached out to Jon for help because he doesnt have any family, friends or loved ones.

Authored legislation to extend a critical homeless veterans reintegration program that provides support to
state and local groups, such as the Volunteers of American Northern Rockies in Billings, that assist homeless
veterans looking for employment and career counseling.
Fought for funds for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, which provides supportive
services to low-income veterans and helps them access and coordinate other public benefits.
Bozeman
3
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Bozeman VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
300 N. Wilson, Suite 703G, Bozeman, MT 59715
406-582-5300
500
11500
1000
1/1/15
836
1120
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
1
2
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10/15/15
Days
21.3
Bozeman
4.6
3.7
4.2
5.4
0.9
Mental Health
10
Primary Care
Speciality Care
A Snapshot of Bozemans Veteran Population

9,738 veterans live in the Bozeman region
1 6,517 live in Gallatin County
4 1,568 live in Park County
2 873 live in Madison County
5 359 live in Sweetgrass County
3 234 live in Meagher County
6 187 live in Wheatland County

Bozeman is home to Montana State University and many student veterans are using GI Bill benefits to pay
for school. Many of these young veterans who are returning to school are struggling to transition from the
battlefield to the classroom.

Authored legislation that would help schools establish and improve Veteran Student Centers, which help
improve the performance of veterans in school, increase their graduation rates, and connect them to their
campus.
Supported efforts to strengthen the Transition Assistance Program to provide critical information, tools, and
training to men and women leaving the military.

Sarah is a Montana veteran who was tragically a victim of sexual assault during her service in the Marines.
Upon her separation from the service, she returned to Montana to pursue her education and potential job
opportunities. She struggles to get the care she needs from the VA because they wont properly recognize the
PTSD that she incurred as a result of military sexual trauma.

Authored the landmark Ruth Moore Act, which would make it easier for veterans to qualify for disability
benefits by reducing their burden of proof for incidents of military sexual trauma.
Advocated for legislation requiring the VA to establish standards at its facilities that meet the specific
needs of women veterans and to require every VA medical center to have a full-time obstetrician and/or
gynecologist.
11
Butte
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Anaconda VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

118 East 7th St, Suite 2A, Anaconda, MT 59711
406-496-3000
1/1/15
10/15/15
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
0
100
200
300
91
266
Days
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Anaconda
0.6
Mental Health
12
15.8
14.3
1.5
Primary Care
0
Speciality Care
A Snapshot of Buttes Veteran Population

6,634 veterans live in the Butte region
971 live in Beaverhead County
1,050 live in Powell County
1,171 live in Deer Lodge County
4 3,442 live in Butte-Silver Bow

A Vietnam veteran from Butte who is down on his luck and battling PTSD and depression is living temporarily in a
nursing home hours away from his family because of the lack of local services for veterans.

Brought the VA Secretary to Montana to meet with officials from Butte to hear personally about why construction
on the Southwest Montana Veterans Home should move forward.
Directed the VA to work with rural partners to study the need for long term care for veterans in rural or highly
rural areas.
Authored legislation that would dramatically increase funding for state veterans homes, and particularly for new
projects in rural and highly rural areas like Butte.

A disabled veteran from Boulder is appreciative of the care he receives from the VA but is increasingly frustrated by
the time it takes to process his disability claim, and to access other VA benefits and services.

Co-authored legislation that will allow the VA to more quickly and efficiently process pending and future claims.
Supported legislation that requires the VA to provide concurrent receipt of disability and military retirement pay
to all disabled veterans.
Co-authored legislation to extend space-available military air travel to more service-connected

disabled veterans.
13
Glendive
12
11
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
13
Miles City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

210 S. Winchester, Miles City, MT 59301
406-874-5600
10
14
Glasgow VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

630 Second Avenue S, Suite A, Glasgow, MT 599230
406-228-4101
1/1/15
Glendive VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
2000 Montana Avenue, Glendive, MT 59330
406-377-4755
6
2
10/15/15
TOTAL # OF APPOINTMENTS
0
100
200
237
73
213
300
151
73
132
200
100
100
300
AVERAGE WAIT TIMES FOR VETERANS BY VA FACILITY

Days
10
9
8
7
Miles City
Days
7
6.3
4.3
2.9
3
2
1
Glasgow
6
5
Days
3
2
0.9
Primary Care Speciality Care
3.5
1.6 1.8
0
Primary Care
14
Speciality Care
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
14.6
Glendive
3.8
0.7 0.7
Mental Health Primary Care
A Snapshot of Glendives Veteran Population

5,767 veterans live in the Glendive region
1 126 live in Powder River County 6 198 live in Fallon County
11 865 live in Roosevelt County
2 74 live in Carter County
7 106 live in Garfield County
12 311 live in Sheridan County
3 1,255 live in Custer County
8 155 live in McCone County
13 729 live in Valley County
4 195 live in Daniels County
9 130 live in Prairie County
14 73 live in Wibaux County
5 886 live in Dawson County
10 664 live in Richland County

A World War II veteran must often travel up to 200 miles to get his hearing aids adjusted. Because he is unable
to drive, his 85 year-old wife must accompany and drive him to his appointments. This costly practice is
beginning to take a physical and financial toll on the veteran and his family.

Authored legislation to lift policy restrictions that limit the VAs ability to work with hearing aid specialists,
and to expedite access to these services for more veterans.
Fought to ensure the Veterans Choice Act included significant resources to address VA staffing shortages for
professionals such as audiologists.

Earlier this year, a veteran in Glendive sought an appointment from the VA for podiatric care. The local veterans
clinic was unable to provide the services he needed, and he was also ineligible for care outside the VA because
he lived too close to a VA facility.

Passed legislation clarifying that veterans can receive care outside the VA if they live close to a VA facility
that does not provide the specific treatment they seek.
Authored legislation to ensure veterans are better able to receive quality care from the most highly
trained and specialized foot and ankle specialists.
15
Great Falls
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
11 7
Great Falls VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

1417 9th St South, Suite 200 and 300, Great Falls, MT 59405
406-791-3200
Havre VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

130 13th St, Suite 1, Havre, MT 59501
406-265-4304
500
1000
1500
100
1/1/15
100
200
86
195
231
Days
10.4
Havre
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Great Falls
6.8
300 0
200
188
AVERAGE WAIT TIMES FOR

VETERANS BY VA FACILITY
10
1330
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10/15/15
1374
Days
10
Lewistown VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

629 NE Main St, Suite 1, Lewistown, MT 59457
406-535-4790
1.8
0
0.2
Mental Health Primary Care Speciality Care
8.8
7.5
Days
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
4.2
Lewistown
1.9
6.4
4.8
1.8 1.4
0
16
A Snapshot of Great Falls Veteran Population

17,140 veterans live in the Great Falls region
1 579 live in Blaine County
5 540 live in Chouteau County
9 558 live in Pondera County
2 11,138 live in Cascade County
6 217 live in Judith Basin County 10 648 live in Teton County
3 1,338 live in Hill County
7 129 live in Liberty County
4 1,134 live in Fergus County
8 336 live in Phillips County
11 523 live in Toole County

A World War II veteran from Lewistown is struggling with PTSD and dementia. His wife recently contacted
Jon after he moved into the State Mental Health Nursing Home in Lewistown because no other facilities
could treat him. The VA did not have a contract with this nursing home so his family was forced to spend
significant portions of their retirement income to allow the veteran to receive treatment he desperately
needed. This veteran is one of nearly ten million veterans in America who will be 65 or older next year - when
46 percent of the total veteran population will be nearing retirement age.

Fought to increase resources for the State Veterans Homes program, which funds facilities that provide
critical nursing and domiciliary care to veterans.
Secured critical dollars that allow the VA to partner with local mental health providers to address the urgent
mental health needs of veterans in more Montana communities.
Called for the VA to provide a report on the long-term health care needs of the aging veterans population in
rural America.

A Vietnam veteran in Choteau who was exposed to Agent Orange has to travel to Great Falls for treatment once
a week and is worried about the long-term impact Agent Orange will have on his family.

Co-authored legislation calling for additional research to determine whether health conditions from toxic
exposures are being passed down to future generations, and to formulate an appropriate course of action.
Supported legislation to extend benefit eligibility to more Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to
toxins such as Agent Orange, and to ensure their claims are processed in a timely manner.
Fought to ensure the VA has the resources it needs to respond appropriately to the growing number
of veterans who have been subject to toxic exposure during their service.
17
Helena
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Fort Harrison
3687 Veterans Drive, PO Box 1500
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636-1500
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
0
3
1
1/1/15
10/15/15
6000
2000
10000
6856
8532
Days
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
Fort Harrison
40.4
35.7
17.2
12.4
4.5
Mental Health
18
4.5
Primary Care
Speciality Care
A Snapshot of Helenas Veteran Population

8,879 veterans live in the Helena region
1 526 live in Broadwater County

2 7,151 live in Lewis and Clark County
3 1,202 live in Jefferson County

From June of 2014 to February of 2015, VA Montana was without a permanent director. The prolonged vacancy
impeded the ability of VA Montana to take strong action, to make long-term decisions, and to implement the
dramatic reforms necessary for the VA to meet the demands of veterans in the state. Unfortunately, leadership
vacancies such as this are prevalent across the VA.

Demanded action directly from the VA Secretary in addressing the vacancy at Fort Harrison.
Authored legislation that will require the VA to implement robust succession planning policies to address the
prevalence of vacancies across the agency.
Authored legislation that will address the VAs inability to compete within the health care industry for
executive leaders.

An alarming number of VA employees continue to voice concerns about retaliation after they have exposed
wrongdoing at VA facilities across the country and at Fort Harrison in Helena.

Fought for legislation that directs the VA to ensure all employees are educated on their rights from
retaliation, existing whistleblower protections, and resources available to them.
Co-authored legislation that calls for the termination of any VA employee who is found to have retaliated or
threatened to retaliate against a whistleblower for disclosing wrongdoing.
Called for the VA to extend whistleblower protection for temporary or probationary employees.
19
Kalispell
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Cut Bank VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

#8 Second Avenue SE, Cut Bank, MT 59427
406-873-9047
Kalispell VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
31 Three Mile Drive, Suite 102, Kalispell, MT 59901
406-758-2700
1
2
1000
2000
100
200
18
1665
135
1894
AVERAGE WAIT TIMES FOR VETERANS BY VA FACILITY

Days
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
40.7
15.8
Kalispell
Days
7
Cut Bank
1/1/15
6
5
10/15/15
4
13.1
3
1.8
2
0.7
2.2
2.9
1.6
20
A Snapshot of Kalispells Veteran Population

17,490 veterans live in the Kalispell region
1 9,238 live in Flathead County
4 1,571 live in Sanders County
2 3,148 live in Lake County
5 858 live in Glacier County
3 2,675 live in Lincoln County

Veterans Michael and Edward from Kalispell both struggle with mental health conditions and live many hours
away from their VA mental health doctors. Often times, they need urgent attention and are unable to drive long
distances to Fort Harrison in Helena or even Fort Sheridan, Wyoming, to access the care they need.

Authored landmark legislation - The Delivering Opportunities for Care and Services (DOCS) for Veterans Act to
help recruit and retain qualified medical professionals, specifically mental health professionals, in rural America.
Fought to ensure the Veterans Choice Act included significant resources to address VA staffing shortages,
particularly for mental health professionals.
Brought VA Secretary McDonald to Montana to meet with veterans, local health care providers and VA employees
to gain a better understanding of the mental health needs in frontier states like Montana.

Marcus is a veteran from the Flathead Valley who had to travel to Idaho Falls for surgery this summer.
Making such a long trip incurs significant costs for veterans like Michael, and issues associated with his travel
reimbursement for this particular trip left him stuck in Idaho Falls.

Secured the first increase in over 30 years in the VAs disabled veterans travel reimbursement levels from 11
cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile.
Teamed with veterans advocates to successfully create a new grant program to fund volunteer veterans service
organizations who operate Vet Vans and help connect rural veterans to care.
Fought to successfully extend a critical VA program that provides transportation and ambulatory services
to more rural veterans.
21
Missoula
2
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
Missoula VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

2687 Palmer Street, Suite C, Missoula, MT 59808
406-493-3700
1/1/15
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
0
1
4
10/15/15
2000
4000
2881
3043
Days
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Missoula
18.3
13.6
10.4
3.3
4.9
2.8
Mental Health
22
Primary Care
Speciality Care
A Snapshot of Missoulas Veteran Population

15,916 veterans live in the Missoula region
393 live in Granite County
9,928 live in Missoula County
558 live in Mineral County
4 5,037 live in Ravalli County

Deb is a veteran from Missoula, who happens to be one of the 175,000 known VA enrollees who live with
Hepatitis C. Currently, she is unable to receive the treatments she needs in a timely manner because she is on a
wait list driven by VA budget constraints.

Successfully pushed legislation through the Senate that will bolster veterans health care by nearly $2 billion
and ensure the VA is better able to provide more Hepatitis C treatments that are shorter in duration with
fewer side effects and that have cure rates approaching 100 percent.

Earlier this year, a veterans spouse from Missoula recently had to quit a good-paying job to care full-time for
her husband suffering from the Traumatic Brain Injury he experienced in Iraq. Because of the increased demand
for caregiver resources from the VA, she has been unable to access the support and assistance she needs to care
for her husband and provide for her family.

Fighting to secure additional resources for VA caregiver services.
Co-authored legislation to expand the VAs caregiver services program and increase the types of resources
available to family members who have taken on a caregiver role.
23
Testers
BillingsVeteran Legislation in 2015
S.170 - CHAMPVA Childrens Care Protection Act
(Tester): Raises the maximum age for CHAMPVA
eligibility to age 26 in order to bring eligibility under
the VA program into parity with the private sector.
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
S.171 - Disabled Veterans Travel Enhancement Act

(Tester): Allows travel reimbursement for certain
catastrophically disabled veterans who are accepted
into in-patient care at a VA special disabilities
rehabilitation program.
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
S.172 - The Access to Appropriate Immunizations

for Veterans Act (Tester): Promotes more timely
and appropriate vaccinations for veterans, placing a
greater emphasis on preventive care.
S.241 - The Military Family Relief Act (Tester):
Authorizes the VBA to automatically provide
dependency and indemnity compensation and
death pension benefits to the widows of fallen
service members and veterans for up to six months.
S.242 - Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act (Tester):
Ensures that first-year federal employees with
service-related disabilities can get the medical care
they need without being forced to take unpaid leave.
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
S.244 The TBI Assessment Act (Tester): Calls for

an independent review of the protocols used by the
VA for TBI exams.
S.603 The Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement
Act (Tester): 1) Provides mileage reimbursement
to veterans traveling to Vet Center, 2) reauthorizes
the VTS program and 3) transportation grant
program for highly rural veterans seeking care.
S.604 - Veteran Education Center Empowerment
Act (Tester): Reauthorizes a grant program to help
schools establish, maintain, and improve veteran
student centers.
24
S.832 CARE for Reservists Act (Tester):

Expands access to behavioral and mental care for
Guardsmen and Reservists.
S.865 The Ruth Moore Act (Tester): Brings
fairness to the VA disability claims process for MST
survivors.
S.895 - The Service Member and Veterans
Protection Act (Tester): 1) Allows service members
to defer their federal student loan repayments
during pre-deployment training; 2) increases
education benefits for reservists; 3) strengthens
credit protections for deployed service members;
and 4) strengthens privacy protections for veterans.
S.1676 The Delivering Opportunities for Care
and Services for Veterans Act (Tester): Provides the
VA with greater tools to recruit and retain qualified
medical professionals and executives, particularly
in rural America by building a stronger pipeline of
doctors into the VA and expanding the VAs mental
health workforce.
S.2134 - The Physician Assistant Employment and
Education Act of 2015 (Tester): Provides veterans
who served as medics in the armed forces with the
opportunity to attain the education and training
needed to become a Physician Assistant.
S.2175 The VA Provider Equity Act (Tester):
Ensures that employment within the VA system is
attractive to podiatric physicians.
S.167 - The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for
American Veterans Act (McCain): Improves mental
health care and suicide prevention resources for
service members and veterans.
S.207 - Veterans Access to Community Care Act
(Moran): Increases access to non-VA care for rural
veterans.
S.210 - The Military Spouses Job Continuity Act (Casey):

Assists military spouses with licensure or certification
requirements and eases the stress of military families as
they must relocate across the country.
S.271 The Retired Pay Restoration Act (Reid):
Provides concurrent receipt of disability and retirement
pay to all disabled veterans.
S.358 - Access to Contraception for Women Service
Members and Dependents Act (Shaheen): Ensures that
service members and dependents have comprehensive
contraceptive coverage and family planning counselling.
S.398 - Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act
(Moran): Increases chiropractic staff at VA medical centers.
S.425 The Homeless Veterans Reintegration
Programs Reauthorization Act (Boozman):
Reauthorizes and strengthens two effective job training
programs for homeless veterans.
S.469 The Women Veterans and Families Health
Services Act (Murray): Expands the current fertility
services offered to service members and their families
by DoD, and end the ban on in vitro fertilization
services at the VA
S.563 - Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans Act
(Moran): Directs VA to use existing authorities to
enable volunteer physicians to serve in VA medical
facilities struggling with appointment wait times or
staffing shortages.
S.564 Hearing Aid Access and Assistance Act (Moran):
Improves veterans care by allowing the VA to hire
hearing aid specialists.
S.681 - Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act
(Gillibrand): Ensures that Blue Water veterans would be
fully covered by the VA.
S.743 - Honor Americas Guard-Reserve Retirees Act
(Boozman): Honors as veterans, Guard and Reserve
retirees who served honorably for a minimum of
20 years but do not meet the active duty service
requirement to qualify them as veterans.
S.788 (McCaskill): Mandates the firing of VA

employees who retaliate against a whistleblower.
S.901 - Toxic Exposure Research Act (Moran): Increases
research into long-term impacts of toxic chemical exposure.
S.1085 The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services
Improvement Act (Murray): Expands VA caregiver
services and benefits.
S.1130 The Legal Justice for Servicemembers Act
(Boxer): Strengthens whistleblower protections and
enhances safeguards for survivors of military sexual
assault and other military members
S.1203 The 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery
Act (Heller): Allows the VA to more quickly and
efficiently process claims and to better withstand future
surges in disability claims without creating another
backlog that slows down the delivery of benefits.
S.1557 - Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act
(Durbin): Allows troops and veterans to refinance more
of their student loans at a low interest rate.
S.1641 - Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety
Act (Baldwin): Requires stronger opioid prescription
guidelines and increases coordination between the
VA, other health providers, patients, and their families
regarding treatments for chronic pain.
S.1766 Restore Honor to Service Members Act
(Schatz): Helps service members discharged for no
other reason than their sexual orientation correct their
military record to reflect their honorable service.
S.1775 World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
(Murphy): Provides additional ways for Mariners to
prove their veteran status.
S.1856 (Blumenthal): Increase accountability at the
VA and bolsters workforce development opportunities.
S.1862 The VET Act (Moran): Increases entrepreneurial
opportunities for service members and veterans.
25
Billings
LOCAL VA FACILITIES
TOTAL # OF
APPOINTMENTS
AVERAGE WAIT
TIMES FOR
VETERANS BY
VA FACILITY
26

Tester&#39;s State of Veterans in Montana Report

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Tester&#39;s State of Veterans in Montana Report

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State of Veterans

This report also captures a few stories of real veterans

Thats why I have compiled my State of Veterans

As Montanas only member of the Veterans Affairs

This report serves as a reminder that our duty to do

Many of these efforts have improved the lives of

This report highlights the demographics of Montanas

Overwhelmingly, Montana veterans tell me that once

After being plagued with mismanagement and scandal, I

A Snapshot of Montanas Veteran Population

8,445 are female

and their age breakdown down is:

20-29 30-39 40-49

All statistical information used in this report is from:

2900 4th Ave N, Suite 201

1 E Main Street, #202

119 1st Avenue N, #102

130 W Front Street

125 W Granite, #200

Capital One Center

311 Hart Senate Office Building

Hamilton Telehealth Facility

Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Havre VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Bozeman VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Kalispell VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Cut Bank VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Lewistown VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Libby Contract Care Facility

Glasgow VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Miles City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Glendive VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Missoula VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Great Falls VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

Plentywood Telehealth Facility

Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

A Snapshot of Billings Veteran Population

4 Stillwater County - 800

7 Golden Valley County - 94

2 Big Horn County - 882

5 Rosebud County - 773

3 Carbon County - 868

6 Musselshell County - 528

Local Veteran Case Studies

WHAT JON IS DOING...

WHAT JON IS HEARING...

WHAT JON IS DOING...

A Snapshot of Bozemans Veteran Population

1 6,517 live in Gallatin County

4 1,568 live in Park County

2 873 live in Madison County

5 359 live in Sweetgrass County

3 234 live in Meagher County

6 187 live in Wheatland County

Local Veteran Case Studies

WHAT JON IS DOING...

WHAT JON IS HEARING...

WHAT JON IS DOING...

Anaconda VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

A Snapshot of Buttes Veteran Population

971 live in Beaverhead County

1,050 live in Powell County

1,171 live in Deer Lodge County

4 3,442 live in Butte-Silver Bow

Tester's State of Veterans in Montana Report

Tester's State of Veterans in Montana Report