F\\d RE. Rspuner 7 lufZ Fro Eullel Eu|ler@va gby> Dale May 21 2020 313 25 PM To: Evad Racmo Kamleen Klm@va gab). Mams Enzn Fwd: RE: [EXTERNAL] Reporter — ketamine, suicides financial decision, I’d like to understand it better for the article I’m writing. If it’s a bureaucratic issue, I’d be open to hearing more about the hurdles involved. If it’s a medical best practice concern, please let me know so I can accurately reflect that information in the forthcoming story. My deadline for response is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21. Thank you for your time. -- BRAD RACINO Senior Reporter & Assistant Director inewsource.org c. (845) 553-4170 t. @bradracino P.S. We want to hear from you! Take a brief survey to help us get to know you and the topics you want us to look into. From: Brad Racino Date: May 18, 2020 at 8:44 AM To: "Butler, Cynthia C." CC: Robert.Smith@va.gov, Kathleen.Kim@va.gov, Brian.Martis@va.gov, Susan.Trompeter@va.gov, cynthia.abair@va.gov Subject: Reporter — ketamine, suicides Good morning, I’m writing to request an interview with Dr. Robert Smith, Cynthia Abair, Dr. Kathleen Kim, Dr. Susan Trompeter and/or Dr. Brian Martis regarding the San Diego VA’s move to no longer authorize ketamine treatments at Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute. Over the past several weeks, I’ve talked to veterans who were either denied reauthorization for ketamine treatments or are expecting not to be reauthorized once their treatments end. I spoke to the widower of the former U.S. Marine Corps and Navy pilot who took her life in October. I’ve read her emails, which made specific mention of the stress caused by the San Diego VA’s actions regarding the revocation of ketamine. I've spoken to another veteran who has dreamed of killing himself, after calling the media, in front of your La Jolla building because of this situation. I've seen emails sent by veterans and Kadima to VA leadership and the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In addition, I’ve learned that neither the veterans nor any of the staff at Kadima know the reasons behind the VA’s decision, despite months of email correspondence (which has been provided to me). It appears the VA has made no effort to provide a continuity of care for the veterans — no inquiry for their medical records or history, no consultation as to how best to transition them to esketamine, no plan. I would appreciate hearing from the VA the reasons behind these actions and the context behind the decision making. If it’s a financial decision, I’d like to understand it better for the article I’m writing. If it’s a bureaucratic issue, I’d be open to hearing more about the hurdles involved. If it’s a medical best practice concern, please let me know so I can accurately reflect that information in the forthcoming story. My deadline for response is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21. Thank you for your time. -BRAD RACINO Senior Reporter & Assistant Director inewsource.org c. (845) 553-4170 t. @bradracino P.S. We want to hear from you! Take a brief survey to help us get to know you and the topics you want us to look into. 2 of 2 5/28/20, 9:59 PM