Department of Veterans Affairs, https://www.va.gov Secretary Denis McDonough spoke in person at the Headliners Luncheon held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C on November 7, 2022.
The Secretary reports that we need to make it easier for Vets to use tools such as new mobile apps that give Vets access to their benefits and also through initiatives like claims automations which cuts claims process time for certain conditions from several months to several days.
He also reports that at the local, state, or federal level, care has to be integrated and coordinated, when it comes to mental health care. The Secretary stressed how important it is to deal with veteran suicides since suicide prevention is possible. The VA is now providing grants to suicide prevention organizations.
He mentioned that the VA is continuing to offer tele-mental health sessions to Vets who want them. Importantly, the VA has rolled out 9-8-8, which is the new national suicide prevention lifeline connecting Vets quickly and directly to the Veterans Crisis Line by just dialing -9-8-8, then pressing 1.
Secretary McDonough also stressed the need to care for Veterans not only at the VA but also at home in the community. To help Veterans get care at home, the agency is doubling down on tele-appeals, telehealth, and importantly tele-oncology.
VA clinicians have seen more than 9,000 Vets through tele-oncology and expanding this life saving tool to include clinical trials which will increase rural Veterans opportunities previously unavailable because of their remote location.
He discussed the impact of the Pact Act, a bill signed by the President that expands medical benefits to veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits on military bases. The new law provides an easier path to compensations and care for illnesses that occur after exposure to burn pits and other environmental toxins.
Secretary McDonough also stressed how important it is for every Veteran to know about the new law on toxic exposure. The VA will begin processing benefits claims filed under this new law on January 1, which is the earliest date possible.
Importantly, the VA is now offering enrolled Veterans toxic exposure screening which is an important step to making sure that all toxic exposed Veterans get the care and benefits they deserve.
In fact, the VA is also expediting benefits delivery for Veterans with cancer conditions resulting from toxic chemicals covered in the law. As a result, the VA will expedite Veterans claims if they have been diagnosed with melanoma, brain cancer, neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, glioblastoma, head cancer, respiratory cancer, reproductive cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and lymphoma.
On November 8, “The VA began screening all of their patients across the country to learn about such exposures to burn pits and resulting illnesses so the VA could thoroughly understand the size of the challenge”, according to Secretary McDonough.
Go to VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MY-VA-411 (1-800-648-2411) for more information.