VA expands Community Care; pending legislation will add more options: Starting in August, the VA extended the length of new community care authorizations to one year for 30 standardized types of care. Previously, referrals were reevaluated every 90 to 180 days, which caused interruptions and delays in care for many veterans. The types of standardized care range widely from vital specialties such as cardiac care and women’s health to mental health and addiction treatment. At the same time, the VA has retained wide discretion to limit locations where community care is available and the ability to terminate programs at any time.
The Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 would enhance the accessibility and accountability of the VA healthcare system for veterans. The Act would codify current community care access and wait standards and eligibility into law. Periodic review of care in the areas of mental health and addiction treatment is also mandated in the Act. It should be noted that a sizable percentage of veterans and interested parties fear passage of the Act could be the start of the eventual privatization of the VA, which many oppose. For more information on the ACCESS Act, see https://bit.ly/45dFzYo.
Report shows Vietnam War Burn Pit toxic exposure ignored: While the recent PACT Act did much to help post-Vietnam veterans exposed to toxic burn pit smoke while deployed to the various “garden spots” in the Middle East over the last four decades, there were also burn pits in Vietnam. Although much has been made of exposure to Agent Orange during that war, Vietnam vets’ claims related to bun pit exposure during that war have literally fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully, a recent Government Accounting Office report validating those claims will spur some action. When will our military ever learn not to deliberately expose their own troops to things that only make them “battlefield casualties” later in their lives? See the report at https://bit.ly/4149PlU.
Student Veterans of America provides resources for success: SVA provides resources, network support, and advocacy to, though, and beyond higher education. There are chapters at UCF, the Valencia system, Full Sail University, and many other area colleges. For more information, see https://bit.ly/4145KhC.
VA Foreign Medical Care Program (FMP): If you are traveling or working outside the U.S., the VA may still cover the cost of your medical care for service-connected issues. To learn more about the FMP and register, see https://bit.ly/4oAYqEi.
Meet Osceola County’s New Veterans Service Officer (VSO): I recently had the pleasure of meeting the County’s new VSO, Army veteran Yinette Lizardo. County-level VSOs are mandated by state law and are trained through the Florida Department of Veterans. The staff can provide information and facilitate applications for federal VA, state, and local benefits. There is an office on Vine Street in Kissimmee, and the satellite office in St. Cloud, inside the appropriately named Veterans Memorial Library, is currently staffed one day a week. I hope to do an interview article with Ms. Lizardo soon. For more, see https://bit.ly/4fwA7De.
