For most of 2020, the United States has struggled with COVID-19 and all of the effects it has had on healthcare. With multiple coronavirus vaccines now approved or on their way to being approved, there may be an end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has procured doses of the vaccine for patients, and has begun administering them to patients. Continue reading “VA Begins Distributing COVID-19 Vaccine”
Tag: coronavirus
VA Services Resume After Being Halted During COVID-19 Crisis
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) was forced to close down many of its services to the public during the coronavirus crisis. During the height of the pandemic, the risk that vulnerable patients would be infected was too great. Thanks to these efforts, though, the rate of COVID-19 infection has dropped enough that the VA is now reopening many of these shuttered services to the public. Continue reading “VA Services Resume After Being Halted During COVID-19 Crisis”
Government Offices Reopen but COVID Danger Remains
The coronavirus pandemic brought almost every aspect of life to a halt for months, with many businesses and government offices, including those of the Social Security Administration, forced to close or operate on a limited basis. In New York, at least, the rate of infection is on the downturn, which has allowed government functions to return to a semblance of normalcy. However, that does not mean the danger from the coronavirus is gone, or that you should not take precautions to avoid infection, especially if you are suffering from a physical disability that may make you vulnerable to coronavirus infection. Continue reading “Government Offices Reopen but COVID Danger Remains”
New Screening Tool Helps VA Diagnose COVID Faster
New York, along with many other states, is in the middle of reopening their states after a lengthy quarantine. However, the coronavirus remains a serious public health threat, particularly to people with long-term medical issues like disabled veterans. To help protect these vulnerable individuals, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has introduced a new digital screening tool to help isolate potential COVID infections before they enter a VA medical facility. Continue reading “New Screening Tool Helps VA Diagnose COVID Faster”
VA Begins Reintroducing Healthcare Services at Select Facilities
As with most government offices, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shut down all but its most essential functions to comply with coronavirus quarantine orders. However, starting May 18, the VA began reopening certain select healthcare facilities to the public, to eventually return to its previous levels of functionality. The goal is to once again provide VA services that have not been available for the past few months, while still protecting veterans from coronavirus infection. Continue reading “VA Begins Reintroducing Healthcare Services at Select Facilities”
Recipients of VA Benefits to Automatically Receive Coronavirus Check
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that recipients of benefits through the VA, including everyone receiving disability benefits, will automatically receive coronavirus checks without needing to file a tax return. This will help VA beneficiaries to survive in this difficult time, as unemployment soars and people struggle to make ends meet. The timing on when the checks will be issued has yet to be announced, however. Continue reading “Recipients of VA Benefits to Automatically Receive Coronavirus Check”
VA Health System Faces Rush of Coronavirus Patients
Even under normal circumstances, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) struggles with the burden of helping all the veterans who require medical assistance. However, the strain has become particularly acute with the coronavirus pandemic underway, with other, less urgent care often being pushed to the side to make way for emergency cases. As a result, many veterans, especially disabled veterans, struggle to maintain their health during the crisis. Continue reading “VA Health System Faces Rush of Coronavirus Patients”
VA Recruits Retired Healthcare Workers for COVID Care
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved a request from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to waive a regulation that would normally disincentivize retired healthcare workers from employment at VA medical facilities. This regulation restricts the amount of money that retirees can receive, to reflect the added income from their retirement benefits. By waiving the regulation, they hope to attract medical professionals to come work at VA facilities to address the coronavirus crisis. Continue reading “VA Recruits Retired Healthcare Workers for COVID Care”
SSA Offices Closed to Public During Coronavirus Outbreak
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that it is closing its offices to the public in response to the coronavirus outbreak. While it will still have online and phone assistance available, it will not be possible to have in-person communications with staff for the duration of the closures. These measures, while important, will nevertheless likely cause a delay for anyone waiting for an evaluation for disability benefits. Continue reading “SSA Offices Closed to Public During Coronavirus Outbreak”
VA Prepares to Deal with Coronavirus
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has already taken measures to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, to help protect disabled veterans from the impact of the disease. Of particular concern are those disabled veterans currently residing in VA nursing homes, who are particularly vulnerable to the infection. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie has tried to reassure veterans and their families, saying: “We will get over this and we will make sure everything is done to protect those who have done so much for our country.” Continue reading “VA Prepares to Deal with Coronavirus”
