Non-profit Seeks to Aid Vets

OCEAN CITY – A 73-year-old veteran who did four tours of duty in Vietnam is hoping he can influence changes in the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) because he believes “it’s not fulfilling its promise.”
Ed Neel, who suffers from high blood pressure, an irregular heart beat and other health issues, is working with Lana Samuels and Aaron Snyder, co-presidents of People in Crisis, Inc., (P.I.C.I.), Ocean City, to let Congressional representatives know of the issues vets face with the new program.
The VCP allows veterans to receive help from doctors of their choice within their community if they live too far from a veteran’s medical facility, have to wait longer than 30 days for an appointment or are burdened with hardships to get to the veteran’s facility.
On Aug. 9, the two traveled by bus to Washington, D.C., to speak with Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) staff about the obstacles, which include the length of time it takes for the Veterans’ Administration (VA) to approve the use of a doctor of choice, improper medical treatment, and incorrect billing.
Cruz, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, has introduced legislation that includes implementing VA accountability, expanding veteran choice and modernizing the VA’s Information Technology (IT) infrastructure as ways of improving healthcare for veterans.
“I think the meetings went very well,” Samuels said, as she traveled back to Cape May County via bus from Washington, D.C. “We wanted to make his staff aware of the obstacles Ed (Neel) and other vets are facing, especially if they are in an emergency situation and need medical help. It takes too long for the VA to authorize treatment.”
“I’m tired, but I think we accomplished quite a few things and got answers to some of our questions,” Neel added. “The staff listened to us and told us they weren’t aware of all the issues we told them about. They told us we should expect some changes to the program. I’m glad I did this to help other veterans.”
The second goal for Samuels was to make some of the local elected officials aware of P.I.C.I. and garner their support for future funding and resources. “We were told that staff members of Senators (Cory) Booker and (Robert) Menendez would work with us in the future, which will help give People in Crisis credibility for funding and other resources,” Samuels said. “It was a good day.”
Synder participated in the meetings via telephone.
Neel met Samuels when she was knocking on doors looking for donations for her organization. “I was spending hundreds on my medications, and as a result, wasn’t able to pay my house insurance,” Neel said. “If I didn’t pay the insurance, the bank would have foreclosed on my house and then I’d be homeless.”
Neel, who was a mechanic at a gas station across from the Cape May Post Office during the 1960s and 1970s, worked doing errands such as driving people to doctor appointments, car detailing,  and other odd jobs when the gas station was sold and closed.
“When Lana came to my house looking for donations, I didn’t have a lot but I was willing to give a small donation,” he said. “We started talking about my issues and she promised to help me out.”
Samuels, with her co-presidents, which also includes Dr. Sandra Weibel, a Jefferson University physician in Philadelphia, came up with some options for Neel that included a fundraiser, donations from the Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge #1896 and the owner of Russo’s Market, North Wildwood, and different sources for his medications, which saved hundreds of dollars a month.
“The day before the bank was going to take action against me, I was able to pay my insurance,” Neel said, acknowledging that “Lana knows how to get things done. I was shocked by all the support I received from people I didn’t know. She is a great organizer.”
Samuels is no stranger to receiving help herself, besides seeking it on behalf of others.
Years ago, she was in a severe accident and found herself with insufficient health insurance. She remembers she was “too weak to navigate through the complicated health system.” Her lack of energy, knowledge, and network of people to assist her caused a complete breakdown of hope for her healing.
“I remember that people didn’t know me, so they were reluctant to donate anything to help me,” the Ocean City resident said. “I remember thinking that if I survived, I would help people.”
A friend eventually came to her rescue and “saved her life” by providing financial and resource assistance, allowing her to focus on healing.
“Because of his generosity, I was able to heal without worry,” Samuels said.
When she found out this same man, who sustained her life, fell through the cracks for his own healing, she wanted to help him. She created P.I.C.I., a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation to help his situation and others nationwide who fall between the cracks.
“Because of insufficient health insurance or other circumstances, these people fall between the cracks which endangers their survival,” Samuels said. “We try to meet their needs by collecting public and or private donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses.”
In addition, she has used her settlement from the lawsuit following her accident to help those in need.
P.I.C.I. also brings awareness of resource programs offered by many pharmaceutical companies, etc., who provide free or discounted medications to qualifying patients.
P.I.C.I. assists people in completing these applications and follows through with added assistance to help alleviate their stress.
“Lana is a very well-oiled machine,” noted Aaron Tolliver, a Somers Point resident who has received ongoing assistance from P.I.C.I. for about eight years.
As a Type I diabetic, Tolliver, 44, has multiple health issues. He met Samuels while she was going door-to-door collecting donations as well.
“My little girl came to the door with her piggy bank and wanted to donate some money,” he said. “As I talked with Lana, I explained all my health complications. My insurance had lapsed because the cost was so high.
“She helped me get my insulin supplies, has helped me with several operations I’ve had over the years as I’ve lost my eyesight, and helped me with my insurance,” the father of two said. “She also helps me when I’m feeling down.
“It’s good to have people who genuinely care for you and help you through the bumps in life,” he said. “I used to be a rock ‘n’ roll roadie, and when not on tour, I was building houses, so this has been a big change for me and my family. I went from what I made in a week to making that in a month, and if not for People in Crisis, we would be in far worse shape.”
One of her co-presidents, Aaron Snyder, decided he wanted to work with Samuels after learning about her organization. As a political science major at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., the college sophomore hopes to have a career in public service.
“A lot of the issues we get involved with are ones where we need to get our elected officials to help more with funding and other resources,” Synder said. “There’s a lot of red tape and bureaucracy that we need to cut through. There are so many holes in our systems to stop others from living in dignity.
“I think with my connections here in D.C. I can help,” he added. He and Samuels have been involved with everything from helping elderly in Philadelphia improve their living conditions by ridding their homes of rodents and other pests, to helping Medicare recipients cover prescription drugs when they run out of coverage before the end of the year (often referred to as the “donut hole.”).
Last Thanksgiving, he was returning to college after visiting his mother in Egg Harbor Township when Synder decided to go for a bite to eat before getting on the bus at the Atlantic City Bus Station. A homeless man in a wheelchair approached him, asking if he would buy him cigarettes.
“I said no, besides I wasn’t old enough to buy cigarettes,” Synder said, “but I did say I would buy him something to eat.”
Samuels witnessed this interaction and approached Synder, explaining her work with P.I.C.I. It appealed to him, and he became involved with helping Samuels, now serving as a co-president of the organization.
“Our vision is to help clients individually get the help they need, and influence policy and structural changes,” Synder said. “There shouldn’t be so much red tape with some of these programs. Mr. Neel should be able to go to the doctor of his choice, get the help he needs when he needs it. The choice program is a good idea, but it is underfunded and not well-known.
“This is an American serviceman,” he added. “Should he be worrying about how he’s going to pay for his medical bills? I think we can help change that.”
Those interested in donating to P.I.C.I. can do so at their website at http://peopleincrisisinc.weebly.com or by sending a check to People In Crisis Inc., 1246 Asbury Ave. 1N, Ocean City, NJ 08226.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.