(Washington) – Commissioners Ken Kizer, M.D., and Harry Walters were featured panelists on May 4 at a New America Foundation roundtable discussion about the current and future state of VA health care. The event’s organizer, Phillip Longman, is the author of a new book entitled, “Best Care Anywhere: Why VA Health Care is Better Than Yours,” which examines how the veterans health care system has come to be regarded as the highest quality, lowest cost health care system in America. C-Span provided live coverage of the two-hour discussion.

Dr. Kizer, former VA Undersecretary for Health from1994 to 1999, is widely credited with turning around VA’s health care system, as documented in Longman’s book. Also participating for the Commission was the Honorable Harry N. Walters, who served as VA Administrator from 1983 to 1987. During Walters tenure in charge of VA he also helped modernize VA through a number of management and organization reforms. Walters was also the driving force in creating the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans, and serves as Managing Commissioner.

Other experts participating in the discussion include Dr. Gerald Cross, Acting VA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health; John Holahan, Ph.D., Director, Health Policy Center at The Urban Institute; and John F. Sommer, Jr., Executive Director of The American Legion.

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how our government can meet those needs. The Commission has been meeting and conducting independent research to develop and deliver recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by spring 2008.

Harry N. Walters, Managing Commissioner of the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans, today announced that the Professional Golf Association (PGA) was pairing up with the Commission in support of today’s and tomorrow’s veterans.  Walters, who served as VA Administrator during the Reagan Administration, said that details about the PGA’s sponsorship were still being developed and expressed deep gratitude for the PGA’s support.

“We are grateful for the generous sponsorship of the PGA and for their demonstrated dedication to the cause of America’s veterans,” said Walters.  “Golf is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and all abilities, and can provide tremendous physical, emotional and social benefits to our nations wounded warriors.  We believe that pairing up disabled veterans and golf can be an important component of their rehabilitation, and the PGA has some ideas that our Commission should consider as we develop our recommendations for the future,” Walters said.

PGA Chief Executive Office Joe Steranka expressed thanks to the Commission for “…the very important work you are doing for this special group of Americans.  We welcome the opportunity to explain the role that golf can play as a lifetime activity for America’s veterans,” he said.

The PGA has developed a number of programs to provide golf instruction to wounded and disabled servicemembers and veterans, working through the Military Severely Injured Center and VA hospitals across the country.  As part of their program, PGA professionals will provide disabled veterans with instruction on golf, including specific instruction on how to use compatible motion to develop golf skills relative to their abilities.  They will also provide information about equipment and resources to fit disabled golfers with adaptive equipment. Further information about the PGA program can be at: http://www.pga.com/news/pganews/pgamedianewsletter/pgadsusa_051707.cfm

The Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans was established in September 2006 as a private, independent, analytical body to examine the needs of veterans 20 years in the future, and to develop recommendations for how the government can meet those needs.  The Commission has been meeting and conducting independent research to develop and deliver recommendations and plan of action to the President, the Congress, and the America public by Memorial Day 2008.  The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, an organization comprised of leading veterans service organizations, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded American Veterans Foundation, and Military Order of the Purple Heart.