If you are a Gulf War Veteran, know this date: December 31, 2021. On 24 October 2017, the VA made its final ruling on the extension of the deadline for Gulf War veterans to receive disability benefits for certain presumptive conditions: December 31, 2021. (more…)
[Editor’s Note: The following is a press release from the VA partially correcting what has been a longstanding problem related to emergency care received outside of the VA.]
WASHINGTON — Today [10 January 2018] the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it has, through a Federal Register notice, revised its regulations concerning payment or reimbursement for emergency treatment for non-service connected conditions at non-VA facilities. (more…)
On 29 January 2018, the Ms. Kelsey Yoon, the national director for the Veterans Benefits Program (VBP) of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), wrote the state councils of her organization to provide general guidance on the Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP) put in place by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as one of the means to produce faster turnaround times for compensation claims, thereby reducing the backlog continuing to plague the VA. The letter was disturbing, and we believe it important to spread word of its contents to a wider audience, since it may affect you or one of your loved ones. The following is an extracted from her letter: (more…)
Occasionally, a local business comes to us in hopes of reaching out to our military-veterans community with a benevolent idea of worth not tied to the need to improve their business — in other words, playing their part in supporting those who often selflessly defend us with an act of selfless community-service of their own. Jack Lehr, Inc. is one of these. Its particular focus is on helping those Lehigh Valley families where a spouse has orders for deployment with a year’s worth of heating maintenance services at no charge. The problems and impositions of call-up on the families of reservists are little discussed topics. Jack Lehr “gets it.” (more…)
We want to ensure the word spreads of our Scholarship Program, which has some unique features to it. This long-running program — our oldest — has helped almost 150 recipients since its inception. We therefore ask that our membership help spread word of it. We want to continue to find those we can best help after their return from military service in appreciation of their service to our community and society; and to help provide the quality individuals the junior officer corps of our military always desperately needs. They above, all others, have priority. (more…)
In the improbable event those of you who are an affected TRICARE user and have not been notified — and since state officials have asked us to circulate this information, we are providing the following bulletin:
The Department of Defense has announced there are now only two TRICARE Regions as of 1 January 2018. The North and South Regions have combined to form the new TRICARE East Region, while the West Region remains mostly the same. Humana Military is the new regional contractor for TRICARE East, and Health Net Federal Services, LLC, is managing TRICARE West. Originally, Health Net Federal Services managed our area.
Why are we mentioning this? While some of you using TRICARE Prime may have been notified already – and Humana has stated that during the transition you will be able to see your new or previously assigned Primary Care Manager (PCM) – the transition period is not stated upfront, and a change of PCM may have already been made for you. That should be worth your finding out now, according to one of Healthcare in Our Community Co-Chairs, Alexander Alex. (more…)
[Editor’s Note: Considering the holiday season is upon us, the release of the Veterans’ Trust Fund’s “Notice of Funding Availability” with its grant application package yesterday leaves a short turnaround cycle for application. Please note that the suspense for submission is 18 January at 3 p.m.]
From: MV, Veterans Trust Fund
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2017 3:54 PM
Subject: 2017-18 Veterans’ Trust Fund Grant
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the availability of another cycle of Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF) grant opportunities. The attached 2017-18 VTF Grant Application Package includes the funding announcement as well as the application, combined into one convenient document this year. (more…)
On 29 November 2017, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the White House VA Hotline (first launched in June as part of President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to reforming VA but which also had a shaky start) is now fully staffed with live agents working to serve veterans 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. The actual facility location is in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. (more…)
