Congressional delegation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary Samuel Brown pay courtesy visit to Governor Joseph to advance support for FSM veterans

Pohnpei Public Information

Pohnpei Public Information

Under Secretary Brown introduced the delegation—including Trey Smith, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Health; Dr. Teresa Lloyd; and Holly Wall—reaffirming the VA’s commitment to improving benefit access for eligible FSM veterans. Governor Joseph welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the need for practical solutions that allow veterans to return home without facing prohibitive medical travel costs. Hainrick Panuelo, Director of the FSM Office of Veterans Affairs, joined Governor Joseph.

Healthcare Integration and Regional Support
Discussions focused on leveraging regional facilities, including Guam and Tripler Army Medical Center, to support FSM veterans. Governor Joseph proposed certifying locally based, U.S.-trained medical providers to deliver on-island care and evaluations, reducing costly off-island travel. The delegation agreed to review the proposal with VA leadership.

Phased Strategy for FAS Veterans
Trey Smith outlined a phased implementation strategy currently being explored by the VA for the Freely Associated States, which includes:
Mail-Order Pharmacy: Streamlining medication delivery to local veterans.

Telehealth: Expanding virtual healthcare and remote consultation models.
Travel Support: Providing assistance and reimbursement for required off-island care.
Local Provider Reimbursement: Establishing mechanisms to cover locally delivered care.

The delegation noted that the VA is preparing options under existing discretionary authority, independent of pending U.S. legislation, to bring to upcoming bilateral negotiations.
Logistical and Data Considerations

Participants addressed the challenges of tracking the local veteran population, noting that approximately 50 to 75 FSM citizens enlist annually, though many remain in the U.S. due to healthcare accessibility. Solutions discussed included formal veteran registration portals and improved demographic data collection.

To address infrastructure constraints—such as postal system limitations and varying dispensary capacities—the VA is evaluating local pharmacy contracts, centralized distribution points, and electronic health record integration to ensure secure, reliable service delivery.

Next Steps
Governor Joseph reiterated that dependable local healthcare is vital to encouraging veterans to return home. The VA delegation reaffirmed its commitment to refining a tailored service package under current authorities while preparing for broader bilateral engagement as U.S. legislation progresses.

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