Veterans
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The actions will address the issue of delayed payments head-on and produce sustainable fixes that solve ongoing payment issues that affect Veterans, community providers and other VA partners.
“It is vital to the health of our network of providers that we provide payment in a timely and consistent fashion,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “Our outside providers are an essential part of our network and we need to improve our system of payments for their services.”
VA will immediately take the following short and long-term actions to improve payments to community providers.
Short-term actions include:
– Publish a list identifying providers with high dollar value of unpaid claims, to be published the week of Jan. 8 at the following Web site: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/providers/ .
– Create rapid response teams to work on the ground with these providers to reach financial settlement within 90 days.
– Increase the number of claims processed by vendors by 300 percent in January 2018 and by 600 percent in April 2018 with a goal of 90 percent clean claims processed in less than 30 days.
– Establish multiple entry points for providers to check the status of their claim, including a dedicated customer service team and VA’s Vendor Inquiry System (VIS) located at https://www.vis.fsc.va.gov .
In addition, long-term actions include:
– Deploy multiple IT improvements within the first six months of 2018 that streamline the claims submission and payment process to reduce time for payments significantly.
– Align on concurrent performance improvement goals with VA’s existing Third Party Administrators to improve multiple aspects of their performance rapidly to ensure Veterans have continued uninterrupted access to care.
– Award four new contracts in 2018 for implementation in 2019 to establish the new Community Care Network that includes elements designed to ensure prompt payment of claims.
– Work with Congress to consolidate and simplify all VA community care programs, including provisions for prompt payment of claims.
– Ensure transparency with VA’s claims processing performance by publishing VA’s claims processing timeliness on a monthly basis.
– VA’s current Third Party Administrators, Health Net Federal Services and TriWest Healthcare Alliance are committed to working with VA to improve the timeliness of payments to community providers. Health Net and TriWest manage VA’s community care networks and process payments to community providers.
“It is an honor and responsibility to serve the Veteran community,” said Billy Maynard, CEO of Health Net. “We remain committed to partnering with VA to improve the claims payment process.”
David McIntyre, president and CEO of TriWest said, “We could not be more pleased at the aggressive focus on this critical topic. We look forward to continuing to reach the industry- leading performance level we all desire and expect.”
Improving timeliness of payments to community providers is a critical element in VA’s goal of building a community care program that is easy to understand, simple to administer and meets the needs of Veterans and their families, community providers and VA staff.
Resources for community care providers are available at https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/providers/resources.asp.
Learn about the new community care network at https://youtu.be/v45WAGdCaEc.
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Now in its 12th year at VA national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries, the Wreaths Across America campaign was created by the Worcester Wreath Co. when it began donating wreaths to VA’s national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries in 2006.
The ceremonies also will take place across several cemeteries in Lake County, Calif., on that day.
“This annual tribute to our nation’s veterans is more than just a patriotic activity,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “Wreaths Across America is an opportunity for VA to partner with key organizations as we honor those laid to rest in VA’s cemeteries.”
Each year, VA’s 135 VA national cemeteries receive the following: at least seven wreaths, to include one for each of the five branches of the military, one for the Merchant Marines and one for Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.
Additionally, community and veterans service organizations as well as local businesses have raised money for additional holiday, or “remembrance wreaths” for gravesites.
The Wreaths Across America ceremonies align with VA’s National Cemetery Administration’s mission to increase public awareness by sharing the stories of America’s veterans through research, education and community commemoration.
All are encouraged to visit a VA national cemetery Dec. 16 to help place wreaths and honor the nation’s veterans this holiday season.
For a listing of Wreaths Across America ceremonies at VA’s national cemeteries, visit https://www.cem.va.gov/ceremony/2017_Wreaths_Across_America.asp.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Thanks to Will Peterson Well Drilling and funding from the Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Repair Program, Habitat for Humanity Lake County has been able to help veteran Jim Carreker replace the contaminated well upon his property in Middletown.
Carreker and his family were recipients of a Habitat home earlier this year but it was necessary to wait for funding and schedules to come together in order to tend to the well issue.
“We have been so blessed by everything Habitat for Humanity has done for us, and we are grateful to Will Peterson and Home Depot for their help too,” said Carreker. “Having good water is one of those things we take for granted until we don’t have it.”
If you would like to assist low-income military veteran homeowners with repairs to their homes, please contact Habitat for Humanity Lake County at 707-994-1100 or come by the office at 15312 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake to donate to the Veteran’s Repair Program or to volunteer.
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“These enhancements are another key step in modernizing VA’s benefits delivery to Veterans to a fully digital operating environment,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “With electronic claims processing as a foundation, VA’s innovation will improve service to Veterans, their families and survivors.”
In addition to claims for increased disability compensation (commonly known as claims for increase), veterans will now be able to file certain claims for direct service connection, presumptive service connection and secondary service connection.
Additionally, surviving spouses will be able to file certain claims for dependency and indemnity compensation, and transitioning service members will be able to file pre-discharge claims less than 90 days from leaving the military.
Veterans who choose to submit their claim under DRC can expect to receive a decision within 30 days from the time VA receives the claim.
To file under DRC, veterans must work with an accredited veteran service organization representative, who will ensure all supporting evidence – such as medical exams, military service records, etc. – is included with the claim submission.
This advance preparation by the VSOs allows claims to be assigned immediately to claims processors for a quick decision.
In the future, VA aims to expand the DRC program, where possible, to ensure more veterans can get faster decisions on their claims.
For more information about DRC or to find an accredited VSO representative, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/DRC.asp.
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The hub will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 14770 Austin Drive in Clearlake.
Numerous veterans resources will be offered in one place: community services, social networking, benefits, health care and veterans organizations.
A veterans’ identification or DD214 is required to receive services.
Lunch will be provided.
All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.
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This announcement represents the latest example of VA’s commitment to working closely with nonprofit organizations and other community partners to identify new and innovative ways to support veterans’ health and well being through this initiative.
“There are many benefits to pet ownership both for veterans in need of companionship and for animals in need of good homes,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “The greatest benefit for both can be a more fulfilled quality of life. We are pleased to work with the Humane Society on this important initiative and excited about its potential to create more opportunities to serve.”
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, also hailed the new alliance.
“The partnership between animal welfare groups and VA is an important program for our veterans and for homeless animals,” Pacelle said. “We know the power of the human-animal bond, and I can’t think of a better way to see it expressed than in helping our nation’s heroes.”
VA and the Humane Society of the United States will build model programs and networks with community organizations in order to establish connections with local VA medical facilities, making it easier to link veterans with animals ready for adoption in their local communities.
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“We know that for a small group of veterans, a traditional approach to health care may not be the most effective,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “This is particularly true with certain chronic medical and mental health conditions. For veterans who don’t improve, we have to look for innovative, evidence-based approaches that may help them restore and maintain their health and well-being.”
Veterans with a history of mild to moderate TBI now have access to light emitting diode (LED) therapy contained in a lightweight frame that is placed on the head and a clip placed inside the nose.
Results of some studies show that LED improves brain function including attention and memory, emotions and sleep. LED therapy has begun at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain campus, this month. LED also is available for veterans to use in their homes.
Providers at the Long Beach VA Medical Center have begun using stellate ganglion block (SGB) to treat veterans with PTSD symptoms. SGB is safe and may ease PTSD symptoms, such as the feelings of anxiety and constantly being on alert. It involves an injection, or shot, of medication into the neck to decrease the symptoms of PTSD.
VA remains a world leader in the development and use of innovative therapies, such as telehealth, yoga and other approaches to improve health and well-being.
For more information about other emerging therapies aimed at enhancing veterans’ physical and mental well-being, visit VA’s Center for Compassionate Innovation at https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships.
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