Category Archives: News
The 115th Congress wrapped up its first session with the passage of numerous bills that benefit injured and ill veterans.
P.L. 115-26, a bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 established the … Continue reading
VA Revises Regulations on Reimbursement for Emergency Treatment of Veterans
WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it has, through a Federal Register notice, revised its regulations concerning payment or reimbursement for emergency treatment for non-service connected conditions at non-VA facilities. VA will begin processing claims for reimbursement … Continue reading
• GI Bill ► new GI bill changes:
The new Forever GI Bill signed into law by President Trump earlier this year has multiple provisions that will roll out in 2018. Among them are changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill for Purple Heart recipients, reservists and dependents — … Continue reading
Veterans groups advocacy helps lower new TRICARE program costs:
The fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directed an extensive overhaul of the military’s health benefit program, effective Jan. 1, 2018, that principally merged TRICARE Standard and Extra into a new TRICARE Select category, and created two new … Continue reading
Military retirement system update – 2018 Decision for 1.6M Service Members:
About 1.6 million service members will have a big decision to make in 2018: stay with the traditional military retirement system or move to the new Blended Retirement System. Those service members includethose who have less than 12 years of … Continue reading
Traumatic Brain Injury ► VA offering LED & SGB treatments:
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 … Continue reading
VA DRC program ► Latest enhancements to expand participants:
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 … Continue reading
VADIP ► Dental program revived & extended through 2021:
The VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) is a private dental insurance program that offers discounted dental insurance to certain veterans and their dependents. It began as a pilot program in 2013 and ended as scheduled in January 2017. However, recent … Continue reading
Veterans Treatment Courts – Keep Veterans Out of Jail
On November 9, 2017, Representative Charlie Crist (FL) and Representative Jeff Denham (CA) introduced H.R. 4345, the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2017. The bill would create coordination between the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General to … Continue reading
Veterans Service Organizations urge swift passage of S. 2193:
Veteran Service Organizations are pleased this legislation would empower veterans and their health care providers to work together to determine when and where veterans should receive care based on access and quality measures. This approach is also very similar to … Continue reading