| DAV supports H.R. 7777 and S. 4047, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2024. This bill would increase VA compensation benefit rates for veterans and those in receipt of Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Without annual COLAs, many disabled veterans, who sacrificed their own health and family life for the good of our nation, may not be able to maintain the quality of life they deserve. Consistent with DAV Resolution No. 226, we support H.R. 7777 and S. 4047. We must ensure that veterans’ benefits keep pace for the many veterans and survivors who are on fixed incomes and largely rely on their compensation payments for basic necessities. Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor and support the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2024. Thank you for standing with DAV to provide a cost-of-living increase for our nation’s service disabled veterans, their families and survivors. |
2024 COLA
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H.R. 5247, the Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2023
| The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), noted in 2023, that PTSD is more common among veterans than civilians. At some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 Veterans (or 7%) will have PTSD. The VA’s National Suicide Prevention Report of 2023, reported in 2021, 6,392 veterans died by suicide and many veterans struggle to get timely mental health services they need and deserve. Recruiting and hiring mental health specialists is challenging, which hinders VA’s ability to support the growing number of veterans seeking help. A 2023 VA Inspector General report revealed that more than half of VA’s 139 medical facilities faced a severe shortage of psychiatrists. H.R. 5247, the Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2023, aims to reduce wait times for veterans seeking mental health care by allowing the VA to establish a fast-track process for hiring psychiatrists. DAV supports H.R. 5247, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 250, which calls for effective recruitment, retention, and development of the VA health care workforce. Please contact your representative and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 5247, the Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2023. |
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S. 280 and H.R. 7434, the BEST for Vets Act
The Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act, or the BEST for Vets Act, would ensure that only licensed health care professionals furnish disability examinations under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Disability Examination Office.
The BEST for Vets Act states that, “no examination as part of this program will be conducted by any health care professional other than a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist that has a current unrestricted license to practice that health care profession.” Additionally, the bill would require the VA to provide an annual report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
VA compensation and pension exams are vital to the disability claims process in determining the existence of current conditions and whether or not a veteran’s illness or injury is related to their military service. In many cases, these exams are the linchpin to establish or deny a claimed benefit making it incredibly important that the appropriate licensed health care professional conduct these exams.
In accordance with DAV Resolution No. 220, DAV strongly supports S. 280 and H.R. 7434—the BEST for Vets Act, which will ensure our nation’s veterans are afforded professional opinions in the development of their disability claims.
Please urge your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the BEST for Vets Act. Thank you for supporting service-disabled veterans, their families and survivors.
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Help protect this benefit
| When a veteran’s disability is rated less than a total 100% evaluation, but he or she is unable to obtain or maintain substantial gainful employment, VA regulations allow the veteran to apply for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). It is based on the severity of the individual veteran’s unique disability picture and its impact on the veteran’s ability to obtain and maintain substantial gainful employment. Generally, the veteran must have a single disability rated at 60% or a combined evaluation of 70% to be eligible for TDIU. In recent years, reducing or limiting TDIU has been the focus of many Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports as a deficit reduction measure. In December 2018, it was suggested to terminate and cutoff TDIU benefits at the age of 65, and in reports in December 2020 and December 2022, CBO recommended to restrict TDIU once a veteran reaches the age of 67. H.R. 6362, the Protecting Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, would provide additional protections for TDIU and prohibit the VA from considering the age of the veteran or their eligibility to any retirement benefit, including Social Security, in making such determinations. DAV strongly supports H.R. 6362, as it would ensure the availability of TDIU for all veterans regardless of age or receipt of any other earned federal benefits. Consistent with DAV Resolution No. 445, DAV supports the protection of TDIU as it is not a retirement or pension program. We are calling on all DAV members and supporters to contact their elected representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 6362 to protect veterans and their families now and in the future from these harmful proposals. Thank you for all you do for America’s veterans and their families.. |
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OKC VA Hosting Community Care Tele-Town Hall
| WHAT: | Community Care Tele-Town Hall |
| WHEN: | January 11, 2024, at 11:30am-12:30pm |
| WHERE: | Via Telephone conference call at 1-833-305-1730 |
| WHO: | Veterans with Community Care questions and concerns can call into this Virtual Tele-Town Hall and get questions answered. |
BACKGROUND:
The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is inviting the OKC area Veterans to call into the Community Care Veterans Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, January 11th from, 11:30am to 12:30pm.
OKC staff, Health Care Providers and Veterans Benefits Association (VBA) will be on hand to answer questions about Community Care, Travel, VA Benefits, eligibility, Veteran programs, new virtual resources, OKC ongoing improvements and much more.
If you would like to join the call you must dial into the program on 11 January from 1130am-12:30pm by calling 1-833-305-1730 to attend.
This is a chance for Veterans to ask those questions they may have about what Veteran Affairs can do for them.
For questions about the event please contact: Carmen Daugherty at 405-416-0279.
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NORTH OKC PATIENTS CAN NOW GO TO NORTH MAY CLINIC FOR LABORATORY.
NORTH OKC PATIENTS CAN NOW GO TO NORTH MAY CLINIC FOR LABORATORY.
See below graphic for information location for primary care clinics.
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Delayed opening for North OKC VA Clinic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2023
Delayed opening for North OKC VA Clinic
OKLAHOMA CITY —The Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Heath Care System is currently notifying local Veterans that the North OKC VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be closed between 3 to 6 months due to water damage from a broken water riser valve.
The OKC VA hospital is asking patients that had previously scheduled appointments at North OKC Clinic and are unsure of their new transitioned appointment location, please contact the VA scheduling staff at 405-456-1000, select option 2.
During this temporary closure period, Veterans medical needs are a priority and Veterans will be contacted and redirected to alternative clinic locations around the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
For any questions or concerns about upcoming scheduled appointments, Veterans can call the Oklahoma City VA to ensure every Veteran previously scheduled at North OKC CBOC has a new rescheduled appointment location.
The OKC VA understands this is an inconvenience and wants to assure Veterans that every effort is being made to minimize the impact on their healthcare experience. They are tentatively targeting January 16, 2024, for confirmation of the new appointment locations.
The building owner is currently working diligently with the insurance company, cleaning crews and construction teams to repair the site as soon as possible.
Again, if you are unsure of your new North OKC appointment location, please contact the VA scheduling staff at 405-456-1000, select option 2.
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What is DOULA ?
| Please join DAV in our support of H.R. 6331/S. 2465, the Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access (DOULA) for Veterans Affairs Act of 2023. This bill would establish a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide pregnant and post-partum women veterans access to doula services in an effort to foster better child and maternal health outcomes. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the early days of motherhood, can be difficult in the best of circumstances, but for women veterans, they can be further complicated by physical and mental health conditions related to military service—this includes anxiety, depression, PTSD due to combat or military sexual trauma, musculoskeletal problems and neurological issues. Doulas act as advocates before, during, and after pregnancy, helping expectant and new mothers navigate their birth experience and empowering them to self-advocate for their care, which can be especially important when health care needs are profound or veterans do not have strong, established support networks. This legislation would enhance support services for pregnant women veterans by providing access to doula care within pilot facilities, which is vital as the demand for maternity care services continues to trend upward within VA due to the growing population. By establishing Doula Service Coordinators, this legislation would also help aid in the effort to coordinate care between VA and community providers. In addition, with a focus on health equity, the establishment of the pilot program would be important in addressing poorer maternal health outcomes among minority veteran groups. Consistent with DAV Resolution No. 027, to support enhanced medical services and benefits for women veterans, we support H.R. 6331/S. 2465. Please use the prepared email to contact your elected officials to request their co-sponsorship of this important legislation. Thank you for supporting DAV in the fight for enhanced care for women veterans.. |
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COLA Update
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.
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OKC VA providing Shawnee Veterans with mobile medical assistance
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 5th, 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.
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