Welcome to the Post 251 Service Officer Page
This page will be updated regularly, so please visit often for information you can use.
Scam alert! If a non-VA pharmacy calls you for approval for a prescription, immediately contact VA Police.
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VA and Social Security Partner to Speed Up Disability Decisions for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched a new Health IT initiative that enables VA to share medical records electronically with social security disabilty processors. This secure process will save time and money resulting in better service for Veterans and dependents who apply for social security disability benefits. The SSA requests nearly 15 million medical records from health care organizations yearly to make medical decisions on about three million disability claims. For decades, SSA obtained medical records through a manual process. This new national initiative puts in place an automated process to obtain Veterans' medical records entirely electronically.
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2831
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VA to go live with online appointment scheduling in January
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/va-to-go-live-online-scheduling-january
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One number to call to reach VA
Read More At: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/32858/myva311-one-number-call-reachva/
With 1-844-MyVA311,[ 1-844-698-2311 ], Veterans, families, and caregivers can access information about VA services like disability, pension, healthcare eligibility, enrollment, and burial benefits, in addition to a self-service locator to find the nearest VA facility. And if they’re looking for immediate assistance with housing or are having a mental health crisis, MyVA311 will route callers to the Homeless Veteran help line and the Veterans Crisis Line.
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New Regulation Decreases Cost of Outpatient Medication Copay for Most Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulation on copayments for Veterans' outpatient medications for non-service connected conditions. VA currently charges non-exempt Veterans either $8 or $9 for each 30-day or less supply of outpatient medication, and under current regulations, a calculation based on the medication of the Medical Consumer. Price Index (
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2843
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VA Grants Full Practice Authority to Advance Practice Registered Nurses
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it is amending provider regulations to permit full practice authority to three roles of VA advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, regardless of State restrictions that limit such full practice authority, except for applicable State restrictions on the authority to prescribe and administer controlled substances, when such APRNs are acting within the scope of their VA employment.
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2847
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DoD unveils redesigned National Resource Directory
National Resource Directory (www.nrd.gov), a website that provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels, unveiled an updated design and layout this week. The updates were implemented to make the site more user- friendly for the thousands of service members, veterans and family members who use the Directory each month.
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Veterans Affairs changed the regs concerning copayments charged to Veterans for meds:
VA’s comprehensive VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) gives enrolled Veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries the opportunity to purchase dental insurance through Delta Dental and MetLife at a reduced cost. Participation is voluntary. Purchasing a dental plan does not affect Veterans’ eligibility for VA dental services and treatment.
This new regulation eliminates the formula used to calculate future rate increases and establishes three classes of outpatient medications identified as Tier 1, Preferred Generics; Tier 2, Non-Preferred Generics including over-the-counter medications; and Tier 3, Brand Name. Copayment amounts for each tier would be fixed and vary depending upon the class of outpatient medication in the tier.
These copayment amounts will be effective February 27, 2017:
$5 for a 30-day or less supply - Tier 1 outpatient medication
$8 for a 30-day or less supply - Tier 2 outpatient medication
$11 for a 30-day or less supply - Tier 3 outpatient medication
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VA partnership provides community organizations with path to support homeless Veterans
WASHINGTON — Military Outreach USA, a partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recently launched a program to encourage communities to connect with local VA facilities and help VA provide support to homeless or recently homeless Veterans and their families.
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DoD unveils redesigned National Resource Directory
National Resource Directory (www.nrd.gov), a website that provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels, unveiled an updated design and layout this week. The updates were implemented to make the site more user- friendly for the thousands of service members, veterans and family members who use the Directory each month.
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. NR-459-16
Dec. 30, 2016
DoD Announces New Outreach Efforts to Veterans Regarding Discharges and Military Records
The Department of Defense today announced a renewed effort to ensure veterans are aware of the opportunity to have their discharges and military records reviewed. Through enhanced public outreach, engagement with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Military Service Organizations (MSOs), and other outside groups, as well as direct outreach to individual veterans, the department encourages all veterans who believe they have experienced an error or injustice to request relief from their service’s Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (
How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade
Answer a series of questions to get customized step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a discharge upgrade or correction. If your application goes through and your discharge is upgraded, you'll be eligible for the VA benefits you earned during your period of service.
ll branches of the military consider you to have a strong case for a discharge upgrade if you can show your discharge was connected to any of these categories:
- Mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Sexual assault or harassment during military service
- Sexual orientation (including under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy)
The information you enter on the next page is completely confidential.
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VA’s rule establishes a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune
VA to provide disability benefits for related diseases
VA regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, N.C. are effective as of today.
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Veterans Find Prostate Cancer Cure at McGuire
Veterans across America travel to McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond for treatment of moderate to aggressive forms of prostate cancer using “brachytherapy” a much better option for Veterans. Read the full story
https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2017/August/Veterans-Find-Prostate-Cancer-Cure-at-McGuire.asp
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VA Revises Regulations on Reimbursement for Emergency Treatment of Veterans
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=3996
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NCA Updates Memorialization Products
VA published a revised VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker and VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for a Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery. Both forms are now available on VA’s website atwww.va.gov/forms. All other versions of the VA Form 40-1330 are obsolete. Please ensure the most current version dated December 2017 is submitted. For your convenience, we have included a direct link to both claim forms:https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330.pdf andhttps://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330M.pdf
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VA and DoD have launched a web-based tool that provides customized guidance to Veterans who desire to upgrade or change the conditions of their military discharge.
How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade
Answer a series of questions to get customized step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a discharge upgrade or correction. If your application goes through and your discharge is upgraded, you'll be eligible for the VA benefits you earned during your period of service.
ll branches of the military consider you to have a strong case for a discharge upgrade if you can show your discharge was connected to any of these categories:
- Mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Sexual assault or harassment during military service
- Sexual orientation (including under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy)
The information you enter on the next page is completely confidential.
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Wartime Veterans: Find out if you qualify for VA pension benefits
https://mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch#1611420863
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VA is joining four other major health care systems to form a nonprofit generic drug company. The goal is to bypass current drug manufacturers, blamed for arbitrary price increases and artificial shortages of vital medications
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Two scams aimed at Veterans targeted by U.S. Postal Inspection Service
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Video explains VA health care copayments: why some #Veterans are charged a copay, how to pay, and how to address debts.
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Debunking the VA Privatization Myth
here is no effort underway to privatize VA and to suggest otherwise is completely false and a red herring designed to distract and avoid honest debate on the real issues surrounding Veterans' health care.
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=4034
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FEDVIP Brings Vision Coverage to TRICARE Beneficiaries
Eye exams can help keep your vision strong, diagnose potential issues early, and prevent diseases that may lead to vision loss or blindness. Beginning with the 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season (Nov. 12 to Dec. 10, 2018), beneficiaries enrolled in a TRICARE health plan will be eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Coverage will start Jan. 1, 2019.
https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/04_06_2017_FEDVIP_Vision