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.
The program was released in March 2018 and has already made a positive impact. As of July 2018, the program has already helped reduce the number of missed appointments by more than 100,000. According to the VA’s Acting Secretary, Peter O’Rourke, “every missed appointment represents a lost opportunity to provide faster access to care for a veteran in need.”
Aside from reminding veterans about their appointments, the VEText program allows veterans to quickly and conveniently cancel their appointments if needed. According to a statement released by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Veterans Access to Care, the program has allowed the VA to contact 3.24 million veterans via text message about their appointments. Also, as of early July 2018, the program has allowed for 319,504 appointments to be canceled. Canceled appointments, as opposed to no-shows, opens time slots for other veterans in need.
The new VEText program will potentially help the VA to more efficiently assist our nation’s veterans and help ensure they have access to the medical care they need. Veterans contending with healthcare issues often find it difficult to remember each event or appointment they must attend. The new VEText program uses technology to provide some needed assistance.
If you or a loved one is a veteran that suffered an injury or illness during service and is seeking to apply for veteran’s disability benefits or has had an application for disability benefits denied, it is important to contact an experienced veteran’s disability lawyer who may assist you or a loved one through the process. Filing an application for veteran’s disability benefits or appealing an application that has been denied, is a complex process that requires the attention of a skilled veteran’s disability attorney.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP concentrate their practice in Veterans Disability Law. With over 50 years of combined experience between its lawyers, our attorneys may be able to assist you or a loved one in obtaining disability benefits, including healthcare and medical treatment. Call our office at (800) 395 -7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office.
