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…)
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…)
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is returning on 14 June 2017 to conduct its third Community Town Hall in the area since the establishment of the quarterly requirement a couple of years back. It is part of an attempt by the VA to regain the trust among the veterans it serves. Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center services 19 counties, to include one in New York. The service area requires distributing the quarterly meetings over a wide area or we would have more of these useful events. For details, see: (more…)
On 8 December, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it now provides eligibility determinations for interment in a VA national cemetery prior to the time of need. Through the “Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility Program”, upon request, individuals can learn if they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery. This change was made to assist veterans and their families in planning their burial needs better and may help reduce part of the burden on survivors at the time of death. The requirement to make arrangements at a VA operated cemetery at the time of need remains – plots are not reserved. (more…)
Something smart and good for our veterans has just occurred. The VA and Social Security are more tightly integrating their exchange of information. In this case, it is over healthcare records needed for Social Security Disability Insurance ratings and decisions. Yes, one may be eligible for both the VA and Read more…
Click here for the story. Some smart connecting done by Nam Knights with a local Home Depot. Kudos to both on an honest effort coming from the heart. But it would be even better if all the local Home Depots were to get together with Habitat for Humanity of the Read more…
In talking about veterans preference points of state and local civil service positions, here’s a little nugget of information below on a special state agency job fair where many of the state’s agencies are gathering together and which is not too far from us. Perhaps CareerLink Lehigh Valley will have one in the future, though individual state agencies do appear there from time to time. (more…)
The Commownwealth’s Veterans Preference statute might not be the greatest thing since sliced butter and we have heard that there have been problems of fairness in hiring veterans in by state government. It is what drove a state law which now requires a veteran to be appointed to the state’s Civil Service Commission. However, that does not mean you should be ignorant of the benefit when applying. It has helped many. (more…)