On June 14, 2023, the president signed into law S. 777, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023, which authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation, clothing allowance, and survivors receiving dependency indemnity compensation (DIC) payments. To view Public Law 118-6, click here.

VA adjusts veterans’ monthly disability compensation amounts based on the yearly change in the cost of living as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Later this year, SSA will announce the exact percentage of increase. We will inform you of the percentage when it is announced. The COLA adjustment will be effective December 2023, and will be reflected in January 2024 compensation payments.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. —A Mobile Medical Unit has been brought in to assist the Shawnee and surrounding community Veterans that have been affected by the April 19-20 tornado and severe weather storms.

The Mobile Medical Unit is located in the parking lot of the Shawnee VA Clinic located at 3700 North Kickapoo Avenue, Shawnee Health Plaza, Shawnee, OK.

What medical assistance is the VA providing?

Veterans can receive limited primary care, be seen as walk-in patients, and answer any questions or concerns that they may have. Again, the Shawnee VA Mobile Medical Unit will be located in the parking lot from May 1 – May 5.  Hours of operation will be 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. 

Other services will be offered after May 5^th, please stay connected with the OKC VA Facebook page for the most up-to-date information (see link below).

Oklahoma City VA Health Care System | Oklahoma City OK | Facebook

For more information about filing your FEMA claim, contact www.FEMA.gov or call
1-800-621-3362 and find out if you qualify.

If you need help rescheduling Shawnee VA appointments, please call the Shawnee VA Call Center at 405-214-1700 (option 2), OKC VA South Clinic at 405-855-6000 or the OKC VA Main Hospital at 405-456-1000.

Shawnee-area Veterans who may need other assistance can contact the OKC VA Disaster Relief Hotline at 405-456-7119.

Veterans needing non-emergency medical assistance they can contact the Tele-Express Care line at 405-456-8353.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 29, 2023     No. 23-14

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System Updates Masking Policy

Effective immediately, the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is updating its masking requirements for Veterans, visitors, volunteers, and staff at all sites of care. We will continue to ensure the safety of our Veterans, especially those who are most vulnerable, while accommodating individual masking preferences. We will continue to monitor community spread in order to align our masking practices with CDC and VHA guidelines.

While community risk levels are low, as they are now, unmasking will be permitted in low risk outpatient and administrative areas. Masking will still be required in the following high risk areas.

• Chemotherapy Clinics
• Infusion Clinics
• Emergency Department
• Inpatient Medical/Surgical Units
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit
• Intensive Care Unit
• Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Additionally, Veterans and their caregivers who are meeting with staff in clinical and/or administrative areas may request that VA staff wear a mask at any time.

As of July 16, the Veterans Crisis Line has a new number: 988 then Press 1

Signed into law in 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As part of the law, all telephone service providers in the U.S. had to activate the number no later than July 16, 2022. The new number helps make it easier to remember and share with others to access help in times of need.

Veterans can use this new option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans may still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the previous phone number—1-800-273-8255 and Press 1—by text (838255), and through chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat).