Army investigating Madigan memo on PTSD costs

The Army is investigating whether the cost of care and benefits is influencing the diagnosis of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder at Madigan Army Medical Center.

The review by the Western Regional Medial Command and the Army Medical Command was prompted by a memo from an ombudsman who attended a presentation in September by a Madigan psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told colleagues a soldier who retires with PTSD could receive $1.5 million in government payments. The psychiatrist said it could cause the Department of Veterans Affairs to go broke.

The Seattle Times obtained a copy of the memo for a story in Tuesday's paper.

Sen. Patty Murray is monitoring the investigation. She says doctors should not be taking financial consideration into account in a mental health diagnosis.