WASHINGTON (June 19, 2009) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which now has nearly 8 million Veterans enrolled in its award-winning health care system, is poised to welcome nearly 266,000 more Veterans into its medical centers and clinics across the country by expanding access to health care enrollment for certain Veterans who had been excluded due to their income.
"This incremental approach to expanding enrollment ensures that access to VA health care for a greater number of beneficiaries does not sacrifice timely access or quality medical care for those Veterans already enrolled in VA's health care system," Dr. Gerald Cross, VA's Acting Under Secretary for Health, said. "Over the next four years, we hope to provide enrollment to more than 500,000 Veterans."
Under a new regulation effective June 15, VA will enroll Veterans whose income exceeds current means-tested thresholds by up to 10 percent.
These Veterans were excluded from VA health care enrollment when income limits were imposed in 2003 on Veterans with no service-connected disabilities or other special eligibility for care. There is no income limit for Veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities or for Veterans being seen for their service-connected disabilities.
Veterans who have applied for VA health care but were rejected due to income at any point in 2009 will have their applications reconsidered under the new income threshold formula. Those who applied before 2009, but were rejected due to income, must reapply. VA will contact these Veterans through a direct-mail campaign, Veterans service organizations, and a national and regional marketing campaign.
Information about enrollment and an income and assets calculator are available at www.va.gov/healtheligibility. The calculator provides a format in which Veterans enter their household income, number of dependents, and zip codes to see if they may qualify for VA health care enrollment.
In addition to applying online, Veterans may also contact VA's Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (1-877-222-8387). Each VA medical center across the country has an enrollment coordinator available to provide Veterans with enrollment and eligibility information.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Military Youth Lock-in Needs Volunteers
A fun and fantastic opportunity for your military children. The California National Guard Child & Youth Program is having an All-Night Event in Roseville for our children for ALL branches of the military on July 18th from 3pm to 9am. This is going to be a wonderful event for our children, however, volunteers are needed! If you would like more information on attending the event please call (916) 206-0549 and speak to SSGT Jneen Rice.
Volunteers!
We are seeking volunteers 25 years and older, or 18 years and older for military personnel, to
help with this event. Volunteers are required to complete a Live Scan background check and be
approved by the Northern California Regional Youth Advisory Team.
Contact Staff Sgt. Christina Colby, (916) 854-3433 or christina.colby@us.army.mil.
Volunteers!
We are seeking volunteers 25 years and older, or 18 years and older for military personnel, to
help with this event. Volunteers are required to complete a Live Scan background check and be
approved by the Northern California Regional Youth Advisory Team.
Contact Staff Sgt. Christina Colby, (916) 854-3433 or christina.colby@us.army.mil.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Compensation & Benifits Handbook - For Seriously Ill and Injured Members of the Armed Forces
The most recent guide by the DoD and VA for seriously ill and injured vets. Chapters include: The Process of Becoming Eligible for Compensation and Benefits, Benefits, Non-Medical Support, Medical Support, and Transition and Retraining for Employment. The guide is 190 pages and over 5mb so its big and comprehensive.
http://www.directcon.net/lstanley/Compensation_and_Benefits_Handbook.pdf
http://www.directcon.net/lstanley/Compensation_and_Benefits_Handbook.pdf
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Rally Tomorrow to Support Terminally Ill Vet
I just recieved an email informing me of a rally that will take place from 11-2at 8350 Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael, Ca. 95608. This rally is in support of GaryLee Price, a Vietnam Veteran who lives in Sacramento. Gary has terminal cancedue to Agent Orange exposure and will only has a few months to live. I think weshould show our support and use our meeting time to go to the rally. What doeseveryone think?
Link to Gary's Story:
https://www.help-veterans.org/donation/index/program/deny
Below is the press release:
Veterans Administration Denys Claim of Vet Dying from Agent Orange ExposureLos Angeles, CA - June 18, 2009 – After a year of stalling, the VeteransAdministration has denied the benefits claim of Garry Lee Price, a VietnamVeteran dying of cancer, which VA doctors have told him was caused by hisexposure to Agent Orange.The Veterans Administration, the health services side of the organization,determined on April 24, 2008 that Garry's cancer was caused by his exposure toAgent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Garry is dying in a hospice inSacramento. He has a tumor the size of a softball growing out of the side of hisneck.Garry's terminal status, instead of spurring the administration to expedite hisclaim, gave them an extra reason to stall. And they did. For years, "deny,deny, until they die," has been a common refrain among the Veteran community todescribe what they see as the Veterans Administration's unspoken policy ofdragging their feet on claims processing until the Veteran applying dies. Then,the claim doesn't have to be paid. Garry and his wife Bonnie are the latestvictims of this policy. Video of Garry and Bonnie Price telling their story canbe seen at www.denydeny.org.When Gary dies, his widow will be faced with appealing the claim and restartinga process that could take years, while grieving over his loss. Due to hismedical condition, Garry has been unable to work for the last two years. Thefamily has had to sell most of their belongings to live. It is urgent thatGarry's benefits be awarded before his family suffers any more.The Veterans Administration's website states that Agent Orange related claimstake an average of 204 days, or about 7 months to process. It also states thattheir goal is to speed the processing of these claims to 74 days. Garry firstvisited the VA with completed disability claim forms in June 2008, after twoheart attacks and his cancer had kept him from earning income for almost a year.He was told that day by a VA claims representative that, since he was terminal,he should not bother applying, because the processing time would take longerthan he had to live. Discouraged, Garry left with the forms still in his hand.Garry sought help from the National Veterans Foundation who helped him file hisclaim, and in October 2008, mailed in the paperwork to the VA. In December 2008he received a form letter stating that his claim had been received. He was toldjust this week his claim was denied, one year after he first walked it into theVA offices.Garry Lee Price volunteered for the U.S. Army in November 1966 and served 2years 7 months and 4 days in the military, most of that time in Vietnam. He wasattached to a Special Forces unit and worked transporting sensitive documentsthrough areas with heavy Agent Orange spraying.He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Sergeant on June 17, 1969. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, VietnamCampaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Army CommendationMedal.The frustrating irony is that the medical side of the Veterans Administrationhas already determined Garry's terminal cancer is service-connected, and thatthe benefits side still denied Garry's claim. This is something that theNational Veterans Foundation has seen many times before in their work assistingVeterans in crisis. "It's like the left hand doesn't know, or really care, whatthe right hand is doing," says National Veterans Foundation President andFounder Shad Meshad. "The issue here is that, if the VA paid all the claimsthat are rightfully due, they'd go broke."Garry Lee Price served his country. He served overseas during war and, there,he was exposed to dangerous chemicals by his own people, chemicals that willprematurely take his life, possibly in the next few days. But the VeteransAdministration, following a policy of "deny, deny, until they die," doesn't seemto care enough to expedite his claim.How many more Garry Price type tragedies have to happen before the VA serves theneeds of those heroes who have guaranteed our freedom with their blood?
Link to Gary's Story:
https://www.help-veterans.org/donation/index/program/deny
Below is the press release:
Veterans Administration Denys Claim of Vet Dying from Agent Orange ExposureLos Angeles, CA - June 18, 2009 – After a year of stalling, the VeteransAdministration has denied the benefits claim of Garry Lee Price, a VietnamVeteran dying of cancer, which VA doctors have told him was caused by hisexposure to Agent Orange.The Veterans Administration, the health services side of the organization,determined on April 24, 2008 that Garry's cancer was caused by his exposure toAgent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Garry is dying in a hospice inSacramento. He has a tumor the size of a softball growing out of the side of hisneck.Garry's terminal status, instead of spurring the administration to expedite hisclaim, gave them an extra reason to stall. And they did. For years, "deny,deny, until they die," has been a common refrain among the Veteran community todescribe what they see as the Veterans Administration's unspoken policy ofdragging their feet on claims processing until the Veteran applying dies. Then,the claim doesn't have to be paid. Garry and his wife Bonnie are the latestvictims of this policy. Video of Garry and Bonnie Price telling their story canbe seen at www.denydeny.org.When Gary dies, his widow will be faced with appealing the claim and restartinga process that could take years, while grieving over his loss. Due to hismedical condition, Garry has been unable to work for the last two years. Thefamily has had to sell most of their belongings to live. It is urgent thatGarry's benefits be awarded before his family suffers any more.The Veterans Administration's website states that Agent Orange related claimstake an average of 204 days, or about 7 months to process. It also states thattheir goal is to speed the processing of these claims to 74 days. Garry firstvisited the VA with completed disability claim forms in June 2008, after twoheart attacks and his cancer had kept him from earning income for almost a year.He was told that day by a VA claims representative that, since he was terminal,he should not bother applying, because the processing time would take longerthan he had to live. Discouraged, Garry left with the forms still in his hand.Garry sought help from the National Veterans Foundation who helped him file hisclaim, and in October 2008, mailed in the paperwork to the VA. In December 2008he received a form letter stating that his claim had been received. He was toldjust this week his claim was denied, one year after he first walked it into theVA offices.Garry Lee Price volunteered for the U.S. Army in November 1966 and served 2years 7 months and 4 days in the military, most of that time in Vietnam. He wasattached to a Special Forces unit and worked transporting sensitive documentsthrough areas with heavy Agent Orange spraying.He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Sergeant on June 17, 1969. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, VietnamCampaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Army CommendationMedal.The frustrating irony is that the medical side of the Veterans Administrationhas already determined Garry's terminal cancer is service-connected, and thatthe benefits side still denied Garry's claim. This is something that theNational Veterans Foundation has seen many times before in their work assistingVeterans in crisis. "It's like the left hand doesn't know, or really care, whatthe right hand is doing," says National Veterans Foundation President andFounder Shad Meshad. "The issue here is that, if the VA paid all the claimsthat are rightfully due, they'd go broke."Garry Lee Price served his country. He served overseas during war and, there,he was exposed to dangerous chemicals by his own people, chemicals that willprematurely take his life, possibly in the next few days. But the VeteransAdministration, following a policy of "deny, deny, until they die," doesn't seemto care enough to expedite his claim.How many more Garry Price type tragedies have to happen before the VA serves theneeds of those heroes who have guaranteed our freedom with their blood?
Free Tickets to Keith Urban July 23
Looking for assistance in indentifying wounded and disabled veterans to join us for a Keith Urban concert at Arco Arena on July 23. We will have tickets for 5 veterans and their guests, total of 10. It should be a really great show. Look forwad to hearing from you.
Best regards,Kristy
Kristy J. Flynn
Founder & Executive Director
A Note of Thanks
(707) 685-0817
Best regards,Kristy
Kristy J. Flynn
Founder & Executive Director
A Note of Thanks
(707) 685-0817
Low Cost Computers for Military Members
A company in Shingle Springs called the A.C.T. Initiative (Affordable Community Technology) provides computers for military members with very low price computers. This program is made possible through a partnership with Microsoft that provides our military members and their families with low cost software licenses. The company collects surplus computer equipment from corporations and government agencies and then refurbish the newer computers with new Microsoft operating system software, as well as a full office suite and hundreds of educational games and utilities.
There is no minimum number of computers to order. It is as simple as filling out an order form and e-mailing/faxing it back to them or simply giving them a call and completing the order over the phone. I have posted the pdf form in our yahoo groups site.
This program is designed to supply high quality Microsoft refurbished computers to non profit organizations, government agencies, and the Military. They are pleased to support our Military organizations, our troops, Military families, and Veterans. With the support of Microsoft corporation they are able to offer a complete computer systems starting as low as $100. If you have any questions please give Ed Cancilla, President Argosy E-cycling, a call on his cell phone, (530) 363-8587.
There is no minimum number of computers to order. It is as simple as filling out an order form and e-mailing/faxing it back to them or simply giving them a call and completing the order over the phone. I have posted the pdf form in our yahoo groups site.
This program is designed to supply high quality Microsoft refurbished computers to non profit organizations, government agencies, and the Military. They are pleased to support our Military organizations, our troops, Military families, and Veterans. With the support of Microsoft corporation they are able to offer a complete computer systems starting as low as $100. If you have any questions please give Ed Cancilla, President Argosy E-cycling, a call on his cell phone, (530) 363-8587.
VA Launches 10-Year Study of Veterans' Health
WASHINGTON (June 22, 2009) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a large, long-term study to look carefully at a broad array of health issues that may affect Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans and their counterparts who served during the same time period. VA's "National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S.
Veterans" will begin with 30,000 Veterans deployed to OEF/OIF and 30,000 comparison Veterans who were not deployed.
"This study will help us fulfill President Obama's pledge to 'stand with our Veterans as they face new challenges' by enabling us to understand the health problems of our newest generation of combat Veterans," Dr.
Gerald M. Cross, VA's acting under secretary for health, said. "The study's findings will help us plan more effectively to provide the best care possible for these deserving Veterans."
The study will include Veterans who served in each branch of service, representing active duty, Reserve, and National Guard members. Women will be over-sampled to make sure they are represented and will comprise 20 percent of the study, or 12,000 women. A combination of mail surveys, online surveys, telephone interviews, and in-person physical evaluations will be used to collect data from the Veterans.
The study will compare the deployed and non-deployed Veterans in terms of chronic medical conditions, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological conditions, general health perceptions, reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, functional status, use of health care, behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, seatbelt use, speeding, motorcycle helmet use, and sexual behavior), and VA disability compensation. VA has contracted with an independent Veteran-owned research firm, HMS Technologies Inc., to collect the data.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for providing federal benefits to Veterans and their families. VA is the second largest of the 15 cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs for health care, financial assistance and burial benefits. The VA health care system operates more than 1,400 sites of care. Nearly 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008.
Veterans" will begin with 30,000 Veterans deployed to OEF/OIF and 30,000 comparison Veterans who were not deployed.
"This study will help us fulfill President Obama's pledge to 'stand with our Veterans as they face new challenges' by enabling us to understand the health problems of our newest generation of combat Veterans," Dr.
Gerald M. Cross, VA's acting under secretary for health, said. "The study's findings will help us plan more effectively to provide the best care possible for these deserving Veterans."
The study will include Veterans who served in each branch of service, representing active duty, Reserve, and National Guard members. Women will be over-sampled to make sure they are represented and will comprise 20 percent of the study, or 12,000 women. A combination of mail surveys, online surveys, telephone interviews, and in-person physical evaluations will be used to collect data from the Veterans.
The study will compare the deployed and non-deployed Veterans in terms of chronic medical conditions, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological conditions, general health perceptions, reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, functional status, use of health care, behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, seatbelt use, speeding, motorcycle helmet use, and sexual behavior), and VA disability compensation. VA has contracted with an independent Veteran-owned research firm, HMS Technologies Inc., to collect the data.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for providing federal benefits to Veterans and their families. VA is the second largest of the 15 cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs for health care, financial assistance and burial benefits. The VA health care system operates more than 1,400 sites of care. Nearly 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008.
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