Advocacy

RESOLUTION 39-04

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Reno, Nevada, on this 14^th day of August 2004, will meet with the management of VA and the Director of BRS to communicate concern and encourage changes that will align the VIST Coordinator and BROS under local management other than the BRC Chief, to act in the best interest of blinded veterans, independent of undue influence.

VA Response: The Department of Veterans Affairs does not concur with the Blinded Veterans Association Resolution 39-04. While BRS recognizes the critical role of VIST Coordinators and BROS in the provision of local services, VAMC management officials should have the flexibility to establish administrative alignments that best support the independence and effectiveness of the VIST and BROS in their local environment. As BRS is committed to the development of appropriate local services for blinded veterans, it will assist facilities in ensuring effective delivery of local services while maintaining maximum independence.

RESOLUTION 40-04

RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association, in convention assembled in Reno, Nevada, on this 14^th day of August 2004, petition VA to reestablish the right of VSOs to participate in the RR&D grant review process.

VA Response: The Department of Veterans Affairs does not concur with the Blinded Veterans Association Resolution 40-04. Representatives of the Blinded Veterans Association have several opportunities to participate in the Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Service proposal review process. Input is encouraged during program design, and representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) are often consulted about potential solicitations. The VA Office of Research and Development (ORD) welcomes this input and want to know which areas of vision research are important and compelling to BVA.

Because VA ORD values the perspectives of VSO representatives, including BVA, ORD is exploring new options to interact in a structured way with individuals and groups outside of VHA and the current established processes. These alternatives could include formal discussions about the general nature of research, methods to receive suggestions about specific areas that need investigation, and/or informal consultations about issues related to particular topics. Some possibilities include open sessions associated with a specific merit review panel or other advisory group as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) for FACA-related activities, periodic stakeholder meetings, and/or less formal actions. Discussions are currently under way regarding which means would be the most effective and efficient to take advantage of the important input that could be communicated.

Participation on a merit review panel is only one part of the proposal review process. A review of VA policy indicates that including VSO representatives on RR&D merit review panels was mentioned in M-3, Part IV, Chapter 5, issued in November 1985. However, this was not defined in policy as a right. A similar reference was not included in the July 2002 update of VHA Handbook 1203 that now provides direction about merit review panel membership. This does not mean that BVA representatives are excluded from a merit review panel. For example, RR&D has had VSO representatives attend scientific merit reviews as non-voting observers. Also, if a BVA member had the necessary education and experience, he or she could be nominated to participate as a scientific reviewer. It is important to note that voting and non-voting members are required to maintain confidentiality about the executive session discussions related to the scientific review of proposals. The purpose is to assure the free and open exchange of scientific information, safeguard potential intellectual property rights, and protect patient privacy. Because of the confidentiality agreements that are signed, no BVA representative could ethically discuss what happened during the meeting with another individual associated with BVA, or elsewhere.

A crucial issue is that merit review panels do not make funding decisions. While these panels assess the scientific merit of a proposal, the RR&D Service Director and Chief Research and Development Office make the final funding decisions. Therefore, other opportunities for input could be devised. Overall, ORD is exploring options about how best to design opportunities that take the best advantage of VSI interest and expertise.