Friday, September 28, 2007

Government Reference Web Site

 

 REFERENCE CENTER AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT

PAGE AT USA.GOV

(http://www.usa.gov/Topics/ReferenceShelf.shtml).

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 09:40:43 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

VA Reaches Out to Former Prisoners of War

VA Reaches Out to Former Prisoners of War

 

Department Enlists Public’s Help in Contacting Former POWs

 

WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2007) -- Do you know any former prisoners of war (POW) or their family members?  If so, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs your help. 

 

VA is once again reaching out to former prisoners of war not currently using VA benefits and services, urging them to contact the Department to find out if they are eligible for health care, disability compensation and other services. 

 

“One of VA’s highest priorities is meeting the needs of former prisoners of war,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.  “They are extraordinary men and women who have endured captivity, suffered extreme deprivation and sacrificed their own freedom to preserve the freedom of all Americans.”

 

VA estimates more than 25,000 former prisoners of war are alive today.  VA is trying to contact the remaining POW’s not receiving any benefits or health care through an outreach program that includes asking citizens to pass the word to veterans they know. 

 

VA also extends a helping hand to the surviving spouses and family members of former POWs, who may be eligible for certain benefits and services.

 

In recent years, VA has expanded benefits to all former POWs with strokes and certain common heart diseases.  More than a dozen other diseases were already covered. 

 

The government's effort to inform former POWs about improvements in benefits faces a particular hurdle with older veterans who may not have been in touch with VA for decades.

 

A majority of former POWs are veterans of World War II, and their military service was before the use of Social Security numbers as military "service numbers."  As a result, it is difficult for VA to track down those who have not been in contact with the Department in recent years.

 

During recent years through a nationwide outreach campaign that included direct mailings and the help of news media and veterans organizations, VA has added hundreds of former POWs to its compensation rolls, people who had not previously been receiving benefits to which they were entitled. 

 

If you know a former POW, please ask him or her to contact VA at 1-800-827-1000.  Details about benefits and services available to former POWs and family members are available at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm.

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 15:16:37 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Coming Soon - Additional Access to Veteran VA Health Records

Coming Soon to My HealtheVet: Additional Access to Veteran VA Health Records

By: Mitchell Hinkle, SBA

During the summer of 2007, My HealtheVet will release improved features and new functions for veterans. Some of these items will only be available to VA patients who have been In-Person Authenticated at their VA facility, so now is the time to visit your Medical Center to complete the very easy process of authentication!

One of the new additions will be Your Life, Your Choices, an eLearning module designed to help you make healthcare decisions before a crisis or emergency arises.

In the continuing effort to improve the usefulness of My HealtheVet, they will be adding new features throughout 2007.

Your Life, Your Choices

Only you are genuinely qualified to tell healthcare providers about your healthcare preferences. Although many people assume that close family members know what they would want in a healthcare crisis or medical emergency, studies show that family members make the wrong choice concerning treatments for their loved ones more than half the time.

Now, with Your Life, Your Choices advance care planning, you can ensure that your desires will guide future healthcare decisions.

Your Life, Your Choices is designed to guide you through the advance care planning process and assist you in completing an official VA Advance Directive, which includes both a living will and a durable Power of Attorney for healthcare.

The program has three parts, which can be explored in any order:

1. Start with The Basics. Learn why it's important to plan ahead, and look at the 4-step planning process for future medical decisions.

2. Use the My Documents worksheets to decide on your choices, and then complete the official VA Advance Directive form.

3. Refer to More Info for details about medical conditions and treatments, and answers to common questions about Advance Care Planning.

For the veterans and family members with computer access the VA program of My HealtheVet is a great family tool and also can be used to order your medications without worrying if you had called in or mailed in your prescriptions.

If you have any questions about this article feel free to contact you local PVA Service Office.

 

Posted by Bill Moran at 17:55:48 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, September 13, 2007

VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System New Internet Site

VA GULF COAST VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NEW INTERNET SITE LOOK AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2007.

Fulfilling the pledge to provide care close to the veterans' home, the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System provides primary care and specialty services along the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle. The health care system consists of a VHA facility located in Biloxi, Mississippi,, and an outpatient clinics in Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola and Panama City,  Florida/

Telephone Care:  523-4533 within Biloxi MS calling area and

1-800-929-7690 outside Biloxi MS calling area.  Open 24/7.

BILOXI VA is located at 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi MS 39531.

Phone (228) 523-5000 local or 1-800-296-8872 outside of local area. 

STARTING IN OCTOBER 2007 A NEW HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WEBSITE WILL GO ON LINE.   

 http://www.biloxi.va.gov

Posted by Bill Moran at 08:13:58 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center Project

Please take the time to view the below video. Especially if you are a VN Veteran.
For those of you that do not know, The Brotherhood of Vietnam Veterans and the Vietman Memorial Center Project is a new center in progress. It will be accross the street from "The Wall". A place where you can go to not just see "Names" on a wall, but see actual people , faces behind the names, stories behind the faces.
Posted by Bill Moran at 07:33:44 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |