Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said urgent mental health issues for veterans ought to be treated like urgent personal health issues.Blunt, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was in Kansas City on Thursday as the problems within the Veterans Administration continue.Blunt spoke with mental health professionals at a wing of Truman Medical Center in Kansas City's Crossroads District.He was asked about the case of veteran Isaac Sims, who was killed by police during a standoff earlier this week. Last week, Sims had tried twice to get help from the VA to deal with war-related stress, but his family was told that the VA didn't have any open beds."You have to evaluate whether or not that's the person that has to see someone that day," said Blunt. "If they need to see someone that day, a mental health problem that is imminent is as imminent as a heart attack."Blunt is not among the VA critics calling for a major shakeup. He said he doesn't think that would lead to any quick improvements. But he said he does favor giving the VA and veterans more flexibility in how their medical issues are handled.Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill have both said they want to see a review of the VA hospital in St. Louis. The Kansas City VA Medical Center has not been mentioned as a problem facility.

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said urgent mental health issues for veterans ought to be treated like urgent personal health issues.

Blunt, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was in Kansas City on Thursday as the problems within the Veterans Administration continue.


Blunt spoke with mental health professionals at a wing of Truman Medical Center in Kansas City's Crossroads District.

He was asked about the case of veteran Isaac Sims, who was killed by police during a standoff earlier this week. Last week, Sims had tried twice to get help from the VA to deal with war-related stress, but his family was told that the VA didn't have any open beds.

"You have to evaluate whether or not that's the person that has to see someone that day," said Blunt. "If they need to see someone that day, a mental health problem that is imminent is as imminent as a heart attack."

Blunt is not among the VA critics calling for a major shakeup. He said he doesn't think that would lead to any quick improvements. But he said he does favor giving the VA and veterans more flexibility in how their medical issues are handled.

Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill have both said they want to see a review of the VA hospital in St. Louis. The Kansas City VA Medical Center has not been mentioned as a problem facility.



