The Veterans Administration’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) has recently announced a new initiative to reduce the rate of suicide by veterans across the country. Described as a “community-focused health model,” this new initiative is part of the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, announced earlier this year, which calls upon local communities to become more involved in caring for veterans, particularly those struggling with mental health issues as a result of their service. This initiative seeks to coordinate with local stakeholders to help veterans and make sure they have community support whenever they suffer from suicidal thoughts.
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Category: Veterans Disability Law
AMVETS Says CBO’s Proposed Cuts Will Hurt Veterans
Stars and Stripes reported that AMVETS is protesting a series of cuts in veterans’ benefits proposed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The agency said such reductions are necessary but AMVETS argues these will negatively impact veterans in need.
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Mobile VA Clinic Makes a Stop on Long Island
On October 24, Newsday reported that the Northport VA Medical Center is providing veterans living in the Town of North Hempstead the use of a mobile unit so that they can receive the necessary medical treatment. This was brought about as the result of a petition started by North Hempstead officials to provide medical services locally to veterans who live in the town so that they do not have to travel to Northport to get the care they need.
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Veterans’ Disability Compensation Recipients Will Be Provided a Cost-of-Living Increase
The White House issued a briefing on October 10 that President Trump signed into law the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018. This allows those receiving veterans’ disability compensation to receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase similar to what Social Security recipients receive.
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The VA and Walgreens Collaborate
In a previous article, the innovative technological advancement of “VEText” and its benefits to veterans was discussed. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not stopped there; the VA is continuously implementing new ways to improve how our nation’s veterans receive care.
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Benefit Application for Spanish-Speaking Veterans
The United States is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. To no surprise, our nation’s armed forces are also extremely diverse with 40% of active-duty military personnel considered to be of ethnic descent in 2015. The second largest minority category for the United States military is Hispanic and Latino. With millions of Hispanic veterans living throughout the country, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a health care benefit application to help Spanish-speaking veterans.
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National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide
Suicide is a public health problem that has not only affected veterans but also many non-veterans throughout the United States. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently revealed a plan to help prevent and stop veteran suicide. The initiative, titled the “National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide,” will provide assistance and guidance for our nation’s veterans through 2028.
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VEText: An Innovation for Veterans
Over the years, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has struggled with contacting veterans and reminding them about their medical appointments. To help reduce no-shows and improve access to care, the Department recently launched its VEText program. Through VEText, an automated, interactive text message is sent to the veteran, in which they are reminded about their appointment and can either confirm or cancel it.
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VA and IBM Watson Health Extend Cancer Treatment Partnership
For the past two years, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and IBM Watson Health have had an agreement to work together to help treat veterans with stage four cancer. The program has been effective in helping those veterans that suffer from stage four cancer enter remission.
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Can Veterans Receive Compensation from the VA for Mental Illnesses?
Any sort of war exposure can severely impact an individual, physically and mentally. Today, many war veterans are seeking treatment and compensation for mental illnesses acquired from combat. The VA, formally known as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, is a department within the United States Government that administers a multitude of different benefits and services for veterans, providing financial and life assistance to current military personnel, veterans, and their dependents. Continue reading “Can Veterans Receive Compensation from the VA for Mental Illnesses?”
