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New electronic health record system for veterans
A unified electronic health record (EHR) solution between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the works, a solution that will give doctors unlimited access to a veterans’ full health records and history. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “The new solution will compile data from service records…
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Professionals qualified to diagnose TBI expected to expand
According to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expected to expand the requirement in the disability compensation process regarding who can diagnose traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include any health care professional with sufficient brain injury training and experience. According to…
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New veterans education and employment administration
Lawmakers are renewing plans to create a new fourth administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs that will focus on education and employment for veterans. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “The new bill mirrors legislation that passed out of a House committee last year and was introduced in the Senate, but failed to gain further…
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New bill to cover treatment of veterans exposed to PFAS
Last week the Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act was introduced. If passed, this legislation would cover the treatment of any health conditions caused by PFAS exposure and would make veterans and their families eligible for VA disability benefits. According to an article published by Stripes.com, “The Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Research released a…
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New veterans community care rules scheduled for June
New community care standards granting veterans access to private-sector health care will be in place this June, regardless of ongoing concerns. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, the new veterans community care rules, also known as Veterans “choice” , is happening in 10 weeks, unless Congress can find a way to stop it. Veterans eligible for…
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VA to Announce Decision on New Agent Orange Presumptive Illnesses
According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, during a Senate Veterans Affairs hearing this week, Dr. Richard Stone (executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration) announced that a decision regarding presumptive illnesses linked to Agent Orange would likely come in the next 3 months. This announcement would mean that conditions such as bladder cancer, hypothyroidism,…
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Burn Pit Registry strengthened by new bill
This month, the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act was passed which will allow family members of deceased veterans to enter cause of death in the registry. This will aid the registry in becoming a useful tool for researching the health effects of toxic exposure on veterans. According to an article published by Stripes.com, “burn pits…
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Veterans groups appeal for Blue Water Navy veterans benefits
According to an article published by Stripes.com, ten national veterans organizations pleaded with the President last week, asking him to direct the Justice Department not to appeal a recent federal court decision that could extend Agent Orange benefits to thousands of Vietnam War veterans. The article continued by saying, “The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit…
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VA launches investigation of bots using fake news to target veterans
This month the US Department of Veterans Affairs launched an investigation into “anonymous internet actors” impersonating veterans service organizations in an effort to scam veterans. According to an article published by Stars and Stripes, “Vietnam Veterans of America has investigated the issue since 2017, when the organization discovered a Facebook page using its name and…
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New “HAVEN” act promises to protect bankrupt veterans
The Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act seeks to shield disabled veterans’ benefits from debt collectors and provide them with bankruptcy immunity. According to an article published by the Military Times, “when a disabled vet declares bankruptcy currently, the law allows debtors to count a veteran’s disability benefits as disposable income, allowing them…
