After uproar, Army agrees to cover soldier's heart attack bills

Capt. Shane Morgan has more than $30,000 in bills left after he suffered a heart attack during a PT test last year. A month ago the Army told the reservist he'd have to cover them himself, but has now reversed its decision.

Morgan, a New Hampshire native assigned to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and his wife went public with their story after an investigation determined that the blocked artery that caused his massive heart attack didn't occur in the line of duty.

Now, a new report has changed everything.

"The Army has fully reversed their decision and approved Shane's LOD as of last night," Morgan's wife, Jamie, told Army Times on Wednesday.
Six days after Army Times and local media outlets covered his story, an investigator came up from Georgia, Jamie told Army Times, to interview the soldier and full-time staff at Army Reserve Cyber Operations Group Northeast, part of the 335th Signal Command.

On Oct. 20 he wrote up a report overturning the original LOD, she said, and U.S. Army Reserve Command approved it on Nov. 1.

That means that not only will Morgan's remaining hospital and treatment bills be covered, but the invoices sent to collections won't ruin his credit — and threaten the security clearance he needs to do his civilian job at BAE Systems.

The Morgans are hopeful their experience will help protect other soldiers and their families.

"Shane was told by someone at his unit that the LOD process at the 335th SC is under review and that it is likely being reviewed at the USARC level as well, although we don’t have confirmation of that at this time," Jamie told Army Times on Thursday.

The Reserve wouldn't confirm the overturning of Morgan's case, citing his privacy rights.

“The Army Privacy Act Program prohibits us from discussing a soldier's medical history or medical records," spokesman Maj. Adam Jackson told Army Times. "However, the physical and financial well-being of our soldiers and their families is a top concern for Army and Army Reserve leaders at all levels."