Page 11 - Aerotech News and Review 12-4-15

Veteran’s News
VA makes changes to Veterans Choice Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced
Dec. 1 a number of changes to make participation
in the Veterans Choice Program easier and more
convenient for veterans who need to use it.
The move, which streamlines eligibility re-
quirements, follows feedback from veterans
along with organizations working on their behalf.
“As we implement the Veterans Choice Pro-
gram, we are learning from our stakeholders what
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Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “It is our goal to
do all that we can to remove barriers that separate ing distance from the closest VA medical facility.
veterans from the care they deserve.” To date,
more than 400,000 medical appointments have
been scheduled since the Veterans Choice Pro-
gram went into effect Nov. 5, 2014.
Under the old policy, a veteran was eligible for criteria:
the Veterans Choice Program if he or she met the
New outreach
to veterans
Veteran’s Resources
Veterans Administration
www.va.gov
Burial, Death Pension, Dependency Indemnity
Compensation, Direct Deposit, Directions to VA
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sation, Disability Pension, Education, Home
Loan Guaranty, Medical Care and Vocational
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Debt Management Center (Collection of Non-
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Children of Women Vietnam Veterans, Foreign
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Civilian Health and Medical Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and CHAMPVA
In-House Treatment Initiative: -800-733-8387
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Life Insurance:
December 4, 2015
following criteria: ity that they will not be able to schedule an ap- to determine if the veteran is eligible for any of
pointment for care within 30 days of the date the these reasons; or
‡(QUROOHGLQ9$KHDOWKFDUHE\$XJ veteran’s physician determines he/she needs to
or able to enroll as a combat veteran to be eligible be seen or within 30 days of the date the Veteran ‡/LYHVLQDVWDWHRUWHUULWRU\ZLWKRXWDIXOOVHU-
for the Veterans Choice Program; ZLVKHVWREHVHHQLIWKHUHLVQRVSHFL¿FGDWHIURP vice VA medical facility which includes: Alaska,
his or her physician; Hawaii, New Hampshire (Note: this excludes
‡([SHULHQFHGXQXVXDORUH[FHVVLYHEXUGHQHOL- New Hampshire Veterans who live within 20
gibility determined by geographical challenges, ‡/LYHVPRUHWKDQPLOHVGULYLQJGLVWDQFH miles of the White River Junction VAMC) and
environmental factors or a medical condition im- the United States Territories (excluding Puerto
pacting the veteran’s ability to travel; from the closest VA medical facility with a full- Rico, which has a full service VA medical facil-
time primary care physician; ity).
current residence being more than 40 miles driv- ‡1HHGVWRWUDYHOE\DLUERDWRUIHUU\WRWKH9$ Veterans seeking to use the Veterans Choice
Program or wanting to know more about it, can
medical facility closest to his/her home; FDOOWRFRQ¿UPWKHLUHOLJLELOLW\
Under the updated eligibility requirements, a ‡)DFHVDQXQXVXDORUH[FHVVLYHEXUGHQLQWUDY- and to schedule an appointment.
veteran is eligible for the Veterans Choice Pro-
gram if he or she is enrolled in the VA health care eling to the closest VA medical facility based on For more details about the Veterans Choice
system and meets at least one of the following geographic challenges, environmental factors, Program and VA’s progress, visit www.va.gov/
a medical condition, the nature or simplicity or opa/choiceact.
frequency of the care needed and whether an
‡7ROGE\KLVRUKHUORFDO9$PHGLFDOIDFLO- attendant is needed. Staff at the veteran’s local
VA medical facility will work with him or her
Last month, George Runner, First District repre- exemptions and credits.
sentative on the Board of Equalization, announced
new outreach efforts to California veterans in the “Veterans who are looking for assistance or have
1st district. TXHVWLRQVPD\FRQWDFW5XQQHU¶VRI¿FHDW
Those efforts include free tax help, a custom- 2181, or can visit boe.ca.gov/veterans.
ized resource webpage [http://www.boe.ca.gov/
runner/veterans/], and a new publication [http:// “As the proud father of a veteran, I’m very grateful
www.boe.ca.gov/runner/pdf/pub558-1.pdf] IRUWKHVDFUL¿FHVWKHVHFRXUDJHRXVPHQDQGZRP-
that provides veterans with information on tax
en have made, Runner said. “I encourage veterans
to take advantage of these new resources, and I
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All other VA Life Insurance Programs: 1-800-
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200 Maryland Ave., N.E.
Special Issues: Gulf War/Agent Orange/Project Washington, D.C. 20002
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www.dav.org
Status of Headstones and Markers:
National Headquarters
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Telephone: 1-877 I AM A VET
The American Legion
www.legion.org
National Headquarters :DVKLQJWRQ2I¿FH
807 Maine Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
P.O. Box 1055 7HOHSKRQH
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National Headquarters
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