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Quil Lawrence Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide.
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The Impact of War

After 5 Weeks Of Haggling, Congress Inks Bipartisan VA Bill

Congress has reached a bipartisan deal to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs, after nearly two months of tense negotiations.

After 5 Weeks Of Haggling, Congress Inks Bipartisan VA Bill

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Veterans Kick The Prescription Pill Habit, Against Doctors' Orders
Katherine Streeter for NPR

Shots - Health News

Veterans Kick The Prescription Pill Habit, Against Doctors' Orders

There's overmedicating and self-medicating, but some vets are "de-medicating." Prescribed multiple drugs to deal with PTSD and pain, they've stopped taking them — without authorization.

Veterans Kick The Prescription Pill Habit, Against Doctors' Orders

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A Growing Number Of Veterans Struggles To Quit Powerful Painkillers

Bryan McDonel and his father, Mike, both served multiple tours in Iraq with the National Guard. Bryan was first prescribed painkillers before his deployment, and his dependence on medication prompted a downward spiral. Quil Lawrence/NPR hide caption

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Quil Lawrence/NPR

Shots - Health News

A Growing Number Of Veterans Struggles To Quit Powerful Painkillers

Service members are prescribed narcotic painkillers three times as often as civilians. For some vets, dependence on those pills becomes a bigger problem than their original ailment.

A Growing Number Of Veterans Struggles To Quit Powerful Painkillers

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National Security

Obama Taps Former Procter & Gamble Chief To Helm VA

President Obama has picked Robert McDonald, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald will face a difficult task. The VA is is embroiled in a controversy over falsified and lengthy wait times for veterans.

Obama Taps Former Procter & Gamble Chief To Helm VA

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Politics

Obama To Nominate Ex-Procter & Gamble Chief To Head VA

President Obama's choice to head the Department of Veterans Affairs is former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald. He is West Point grad from a military family, and would lead an agency in crisis.

Obama To Nominate Ex-Procter & Gamble Chief To Head VA

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Vets Mark Sept. 11 Anniversary With Yosemite Climb

National Guardsman Andrew Sullens (left) climbs Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, Calif., with Pat Warren, lead climber from Paradox Sports. Sullens, who lost his leg below the knee while serving in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, participated in the three day climb with other veterans to honor the anniversary of September 11th. David P. Gilkey/NPR hide caption

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David P. Gilkey/NPR

Vets Mark Sept. 11 Anniversary With Yosemite Climb

Fifteen Iraq and Afghanistan vets, many of them disabled, climbed Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite. The climb had the therapeutic effect of reproducing a combat patrol — without bombs or bullets.

Vets Mark Sept. 11 Anniversary With Yosemite Climb

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The Impact of War

To Treat PTSD, Veterans Have A Vast Array Of Ineffective Solutions

A new report by the Institute of Medicine rates the different treatments used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, also recommending areas for further research.

To Treat PTSD, Veterans Have A Vast Array Of Ineffective Solutions

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How The Kurds Could Benefit From Iraq's Crisis

The Kurdish areas of northern Iraq have remained peaceful despite the recent surge in fighting. Here, a member of the Kurdish peshmerga forces directs traffic at a checkpoint in Kalak, in northern Iraq. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images hide caption

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Parallels

How The Kurds Could Benefit From Iraq's Crisis

While much of the country is in turmoil, the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq have remained peaceful. The upheaval could help advance the Kurds' long-standing quest for an independent state.

National

Overburdened VA Shelves Ad Campaign To Attract More Veterans

The VA is rethinking its outreach, and is pausing a $4 million ad campaign. The problem: outreach might bring more veterans into a system that's struggling to handle who it is already serving.

Overburdened VA Shelves Ad Campaign To Attract More Veterans

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Politics

Senate Version Adds Costs To VA Overhaul Measure

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs. The measure is close enough to a version already passed by the House that it could reach the president's desk soon.

Senate Version Adds Costs To VA Overhaul Measure

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Politics

In A Rare Act Of Bipartisan Speed, Senate Passes VA Reforms

The Senate has passed a bill to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. Like a similar bill in the House, the Senate bill gives veterans the option of seeking private care if the VA takes too long and makes it easier to fire VA employees. But the Senate version also spends a lot more money on doctors and hospitals than the House version.

In A Rare Act Of Bipartisan Speed, Senate Passes VA Reforms

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With More Veterans Needing Health Care, What Will The Cost Be?

Sloan Gibson, acting secretary of Veterans Affairs, spoke in Phoenix last week. After a visit to a VA hospital, he said additional resources were likely needed in the area. Nationwide, the number of veterans seeking health care has risen dramatically in recent years. Matt York/AP hide caption

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Matt York/AP

National Security

With More Veterans Needing Health Care, What Will The Cost Be?

Veterans Affairs has a budget of $160 billion, the second largest in government. Some veterans groups say this isn't enough to meet the rapidly expanding demands placed on the VA health system.

With More Veterans Needing Health Care, What Will The Cost Be?

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The Impact of War

Audit Reveals Vast Scale Of VA Waitlist Issues

Before former Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki stepped down, he ordered an audit of the VA system, hoping to find how many hospitals were lying about wait times. The audit found that approximately 100,000 veterans are waiting too long for care at the VA.

Audit Reveals Vast Scale Of VA Waitlist Issues

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VA Health Care's Chronic Ailments: Long Waits And Red Tape

Soldiers returning from the Pacific wave from the deck of the USS General Mitchell on Dec. 11, 1945. Much of the health care demand in the VA system is from veterans of earlier wars. AP hide caption

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AP

Shots - Health News

VA Health Care's Chronic Ailments: Long Waits And Red Tape

Problems at the VA are not new; the system has struggled for years to deliver health care in a timely manner. Most of those enduring long waits are older vets from Vietnam, Korea and World War II.

Can Civilian Health Care Help Fix The VA? Congress Weighs In

Sen. John McCain discussed the Veterans Choice Act at a news conference on Tuesday, with fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Can Civilian Health Care Help Fix The VA? Congress Weighs In

In response to the crisis in lengthy wait times for medical care, Congress and veterans groups again are debating the proper role of private sector solutions.

Can Civilian Health Care Help Fix The VA? Congress Weighs In

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