Friday, October 24, 2014

FW: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: October 23, 2014




Subject: VVA Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org: October 23, 2014
From: achaney@vva.org
To: vva17nv@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:50:34 +0000

VVA's Web Weekly - What's New on vva.org






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Vietnam Veterans of America · 8719 Colesville Road · Suite 100 · Silver Spring, MD 20910 · USA

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In This Issue October 23, 2014

Latest Afghan Toll…

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

Hep-C Testing and Medicare
VA Wants to Change When Veterans Can View Results of Disability Exam Online
TBI Rehab Program Extended
Report on Phoenix VA Wait Times Kept Secret for Years
Phoenix VA Fails Outside Review
VA Expands Scholarship Fund to Spouses of Servicemembers Who Died on Active Duty after September 10, 2001

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As Reported by Fox News
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Action Alert

Support Senate Bill S.2738 and House Bill H.R. 5484

Latest Afghan Toll…

According to an October 21 Associated Press story reported by Fox News, as of Tuesday, Oct 21, 2014, at least 2,207 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.
Read complete story here
From the Veterans Health Council

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month


According to the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 25 million Americans, aged 12 and older, used illicit drugs in 2013. Additionally, 17 million Americans were classified with alcohol dependence. To learn about VVA's Veterans Against Drugs and Violence program go to http://www.vva.org/TaskForce/VAD/vad2.html

To learn ways to prevent substance abuse in the workplace and at home, visit the SAMHSA website for resources and tools at: SAMHSA Website
From the Veterans Health Council

Hep-C Testing and Medicare

Hep C Screening
On June 2, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare will cover Hepatitis C testing at no cost to beneficiaries whom the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends be screened. Specifically, Medicare will cover a one-time test for beneficiaries who were born from 1945 through 1965 and ongoing tests for those who are at risk, such as Vietnam veterans. This is an important step forward in the fight against the Hepatitis C epidemic and in identifying the 50% -75% of people who don't know they have Hepatitis C. Medicare has updated its website to include information about this new benefit. The test will be covered only if it is ordered by a primary care doctor. The VVA Veterans Health Council recommends that all Medicare beneficiaries who don't know their Hepatitis C status ask their doctor for a test.
As Reported in the National Journal

VA Wants to Change When Veterans Can View Results of Disability Exam Online

Information from the exam would be available online after a disability decision has been made.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
According to an October 21 National Journal article by Jordain Carney, VA officials want to change when veterans can view some of their medical records online, fearing that some could become violent if they see negative comments and think their disability claims will be denied.
Read complete story here
As Reported by Army Times

TBI Rehab Program Extended

According to an October 21 Army Times article by Patricia Kime, the VA is broadening a small program designed to help veterans with moderate to severe brain injuries live their lives to their fullest.
Read complete story here
As Reported by The Washington Examiner Watchdog

Report on Phoenix VA Wait Times Kept Secret for Years

According to an October 22 article by Mark Flatten in the Washington Examiner Watchdog, deliberate falsification of patient wait times was confirmed at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Phoenix in 2008, but the agency's inspector general kept its findings secret, a report obtained by the Washington Examiner shows. 
Read complete story here
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As Reported by USA Today

Phoenix VA Fails Outside Review

(Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)
According to an October 21 USA Today article by Dennis Wagner, the VA's health care system in Phoenix does not comply with U.S. standards for safety, patient care, and management, according to a non-profit organization that reviews medical facilities nationwide.
Read complete story here
VA Press Release

VA Expands Scholarship Fund to Spouses of Servicemembers Who Died on Active Duty after September 10, 2001

In an October 20 press release, the VA announced it will begin accepting applications by mail on November 3, 2014, for the Fry Scholarship under newly expanded eligibility criteria, to include surviving spouses. The expanded criteria for the Fry Scholarship is the latest in a series of VA actions to implement provisions of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ("Choice Act"). Specifically, Section 701 of the Choice Act expands the Fry Scholarship to include the surviving spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Prior to this expansion, only children of those who died in the line of duty were eligible for this benefit.
To Read more
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