Last month, VetsFirst submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees detailing our 2010 public policy priorities. A major priority for VetsFirst is to continue to improve access to health care for veterans with disabilities.
VetsFirst believes that veterans with disabilities must have access to needed health care services through the VA health care system. Specifically, veterans must be able to receive accessible physical and appropriate mental health services, including long-term services and supports (long-term care). In order to adequately perform these services, Congress must ensure that the VA has the appropriate staffing and resource levels to provide these benefits to veterans of all eras and genders.
Despite efforts to link veterans to the VA health care system, a substantial number of veterans are accessing health care through community-based, non-VA, providers and services. VetsFirst believes that the VA must fully recognize the importance of veterans being able to receive a wide variety of services in their communities and develop robust partnerships to ensure that these services will be available to veterans when and where they need them. At the same time, however, the VA must find better ways to reach out to veterans to make them aware of the assistance available. Partnering with non-VA providers that also serve veterans with disabilities would help individuals to learn about the VA and receive all of the services that they are eligible for as people with disabilities.
Better access to health care will ensure that veterans are able to maintain their health and functioning, thereby reducing the need for long-term services and supports. When long-term services and supports are required due to disability or age, most people want to live in and be a part of their communities. Evolving the VA’s system of long-term care to one that is more focused on community supports, funded by the VA, will ensure that veterans are receiving services and supports in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs.
Lastly, VetsFirst believes that streamlining the transition from soldier to veteran is an important step in making VA health care services accessible. Although the care of servicemembers and veterans is divided between the DOD and VA, it is the responsibility of these agencies to ensure that individuals’ needs are seamlessly met. The DOD and VA must diligently work toward the development and implementation of an electronic records system for medical information and service-related documentation sharing that will help veterans in filing for VA benefits and receiving proper VA health care.
VetsFirst will continue to fight for access to health care and other services and benefits that are critical for veterans with disabilities.
In future posts, we will explore additional VetsFirst public policy priorities.