From Colonel Dan Important Info

[Berta]

(from email I just got from Colonel Dan-Berta)

http://hepatitisdoctor.com/

Dr Cecil is one of the experts I have used for several years to answer

questions on Hepatitis.

a lot of info at this web site, besides the petition to sign.. sign in. also

send a note to your congressman

http://www.march-on-dc.com/Petiton/DrCecil/signaturesBC.asp

I get email from veterans all over the US with HCV who are refused treatment

by their local VAMC.

Seven percent of veterans are infected with HCV and 10% of Vietnam era

veterans are infected (10% of 8.5 million Vietnam era veterans = 850,000).

The VA plans on solving this problem in the year 2025 when most of the

Vietnam era veterans are dead. More veterans will die from HCV induced liver

failure or liver cancer than died fighting in Vietnam. There will be no WALL

for these silent deaths. Many Veteran patients only risk factor for HCV is

serving in our military. We owe these men and women every chance to cure

their HCV.

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------

From: HMAwareness@aol.com

To: ColonelDan

Subject: Update: Hep C Doctor Ben Cecil files formal complaint to VA

inspector general

Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:38:41 +0000

Update: Hep C Doctor Ben Cecil files formal complaint to VA inspector

general

From the petition Help Save Dr. Cecil's Clinic-

http://www.march-on-dc.com/Petiton/DrCecil/signaturesBC.asp

Although the VA states a firm commitment to provide a treatment program to

deliver the highest quality care to veterans with hepatitis C, it is

obvious, this is not the case.

Since October, the Louisville VAMC has referred over 200 patients for

outpatient treatment. Of that number, only three were given prescription to

start treatment. Two patients with cirrhotic livers waited five months for

an appointment only to be rescheduled two months later. Seven months without

a physical exam.

VA clinics like Dr. Cecil's are held to strict guidelines and accountable if

they overspend. In Dr. Cecil's case, politically punished. The VA wants mo

ney for HCV veterans but does not want to spend the money to treat them.

Dr. Cecil's battles to remain open are not new. He has challenged the VA

and the way it manages the treatment of HCV patients. The Veterans

Administration threatened him with closure last year, but granted a

reprieve after Veterans and Patients rallied to stop it. Dr. Cecil was

permitted to treat up to 300 patients.

>Despite that promise, Dr. Cecil was told to close his doors to new and

>>former patients at the most successful clinic in the VA system.

>Despite that promise, the budget to treat these 300 veterans was not

>allocated.

>Despite that promise, Dr. Cecil was punished for prescribing treatment >for

too many veterans.

This is NOT the highest quality of care for veterans. We want an

explanation!

Dr. Cecil's commitment to veterans turned around Louisville Vets survival

rates. Please stand up and help us stop the political maneuver to "phase out

" Dr. Cecil because he treats his patients. The money has been allocated and

we want it spent on hepatitis C patients.

UPDATE:

From Dr. Cecil

7/06

Hi Tricia:

I sent my formal complaint to the inspector general one month ago, but I

have not heard back yet. The VA has cut my hours in half. I work there now

every other Friday for 10 hours. So far, one third of my 321 patients are

cured of HCV. I have a few still on treatment who are undetectable for the

virus and some of them will be cured too. I have only been given 12 new

patients since 2002 and none this year. If I can not get resolution by the

inspector general, my last try will be to write the members of VA committee

in congress this fall.

I am hopeful that VX-950 will be a major advance and it might double our

cure rate. I think it is 3 years away from FDA approval.

I plan on joinin g your march next year and I hope that Rose will join me.

Since 11% of Vietnam era vets are infected, you could urge them to get

tested and to consider antiviral therapy.

Ben

Contact

Congress, the Media, plus, other important local, state and federal

representatives.

Please stand up and help us stop the political maneuver to "phase out " Dr.

Cecil because he treats his patients. The money has been allocated and we

want it spent on hepatitis C patients.

President & Vice Pres.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=20004

<http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F> &lvl=F

Find Your Congress Member

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

109th Congress Fax Numbers

http://www.march-on-dc.com/109congressFax.htm

Your State Officials

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?lvl=L

Your Local Officials

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/of.../?command=local

Media Guide

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

Visit http://hcvets.com

Dr. Ceclil's site http://hepatitisdoctor.com <http://hepatitisdoctor.com/>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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"Keep on, Keepin' on"

Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan"

See my web site at:

http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/