Do you need a specialist for a rare disease?
Apr 01, 2022 · If you or someone you know needs help now, contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can: Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 Chat online Send a text message to 838255 Veterans’ caregivers can find help through the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. Mental Health Services from the VA
What kind of therapy does the VA provide for veterans?
Aug 25, 2021 · The primary purpose of notifying VA of a Veteran in need of emergency treatment presenting to a community provider is to ensure proper care coordination. Notifying VA also allows covered Veterans to have their emergent treatment authorized by VA under Title 38 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) §17.4020(c). The local VAMC will engage with ...
Are there any treatments for rare diseases that are not available?
Feb 08, 2022 · If you want to know more about your VA health care benefits, your health care team, and where you’ll go for care, we can help. Learn more about your VA health care coverage. If you need help accessing services, call our toll-free hotline at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Where can I get help for a veteran with mental illness?
Almost 40,000 of the 335,000 positions in the Veterans Health Administration are vacant, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees the VHA. The VHA serves about 9 million veterans. The VHA’s turnover rate is less than half the rate for the health care industry overall. However, a Stateline analysis of recently released ...
Are there any health concerns I should be aware of based on my service history?
Yes. Certain health concerns may be more likely to affect Veterans who served in a specific time and place. Find out which health concerns you shou...
How do I find out how to get health services for a specific condition or need?
Mental health and trauma-related needs Mental health problems like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders Military sexual trauma (M...
What if I need help understanding my benefits or accessing services?
If you want to know more about your VA health care benefits, your health care team, and where you’ll go for care, we can help. Learn more about you...
Can I manage my VA health and benefits online?
Yes. If you’re signed up for the VA health care program, you can manage your VA health and benefits online through VA.gov: Refill your prescription...
What to do if a veteran is in danger?
If a Veteran believes his or her life or health is in danger, call 911 or report to the nearest emergency department right away.
Why do you need to notify the VA of an emergency?
The primary purpose of notifying VA of a Veteran in need of emergency treatment presenting to a community provider is to ensure proper care coordination. Notifying VA also allows covered Veterans to have their emergent treatment authorized by VA under Title 38 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) §17.4020 (c).
How long does it take to notify the VA of an emergency?
It is, however, important to promptly notify VA within 72 hours of presenting to the emergency room. Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran presenting to a community emergency room to VA within 72 hours of the start of emergent care.
What is in network status VA?
In-Network Status: The treatment was rendered at a community emergency facility that is in VA’s community care or PC3 network.
How long does it take for VA to get notification of out of network?
If care was rendered in an in-network facility and notification was not received by VA within 72 hours, eligibility assessments will mirror those of an out-of-network facility (below).
What is a medical emergency?
A medical emergency is an injury, illness or symptom so severe that without immediate treatment, an individual believes his or her life or health is in danger. If a Veteran believes his or her life or health is in danger, call 911 or report to the nearest emergency department right away.
What is the purpose of VA documentation?
Medical documentation is also an important component to assessing the patient’s condition and making determinations related to care coordination and eligibility. During the care coordination process, the local VA medical center will communicate with the community provider about information needed to support the coordination. There are multiple methods by which community providers may electronically provide the referring VA with the required medical documentation for care coordination purposes:
Can veterans be affected by health issues?
Yes. Certain health concerns may be more likely to affect Veterans who served in a specific time and place. Find out which health concerns you should be aware of depending on when and where you served. Get health information by service dates and locations.
Does the VA cover dental care?
At VA, we offer many services and programs for Veterans with specific needs—like women Veterans, Veterans with mental health problems, and elderly or disabled Veterans. We cover the cost of many of these services under the VA health care program. You may be able to get help paying for other services—like dental care—if you qualify for them as an added benefit. Find out how to access services for your specific needs.
Does the VA address LGBTQ+ veterans?
Does VA address the specific health needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans? Yes. We’re committed to serving the health needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans and providing care in a sensitive, safe environment at all VA health facilities.
Why are veterans in Connecticut having a hard time getting appointments for counseling?
And veterans in Connecticut had a hard time getting appointments for counseling because four key jobs were vacant earlier this year. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, in a September hearing called the vacancy figures “really staggering.”.
Why do veterans have to wait so long for health care?
As the nation marks Veterans Day, many veterans in rural areas and some cities still face long wait times for health care because there aren’t enough doctors, nurses and support staff to provide it.
Why are VHA nurses cleaning offices?
A 2016 report from the congressionally appointed Commission on Care found that VHA doctors and nurses were cleaning offices and doing paperwork because of inadequate numbers of support staff. The commission also detailed a scandal over employees falsifying wait times for service, and some deaths of veterans on waitlists.
Why was the VHA postponed surgery?
In Colorado last year, the Denver Post found that the VHA postponed surgeries because it didn’t have enough anesthesiologists. Understaffing led to dirty storage rooms and canceled surgeries for anesthetized patients at the VHA’s flagship hospital in Washington, D.C.
What states have vacancies in the VHA?
At the other end, vacancies in Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island are less than 8 percent. In some ways, the challenges facing the VHA are the same ones facing the health care workforce as a whole, especially in rural areas like Montana, said Kristin Mattocks, a Montana native and associate professor at ...
Where is the VHA vacancy problem?
However, a Stateline analysis of recently released federal figures shows the VHA has a severe vacancy problem in high-cost urban areas such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and in largely rural states, such as Montana and Colorado.
How many vacancies are there in the VHA?
Most of the nearly 40,000 vacancies are for medical and dental staff such as doctors and nurses. Those professionals are hard to find and keep because VHA’s hiring process is time-consuming and the pay is lower than in the private sector.
What kind of doctor can diagnose rare diseases?
Finding the right specialist to help you with a rare disease takes time, but Nelson says you may want to begin your search with a geneticist because so many rare diseases have a genetic component. “For a lot of the rare genetic diseases, geneticists are the most adept at seeing very rare presentations of human development.” Because rare diseases are often diagnosed in children, he says a general pediatrician who’s stumped by symptoms is often the first line doctor, and may send the patient to a geneticist for testing. “If the geneticist can’t solve the riddle, then they end up with people like me for the next level of sequencing,” Nelson says. From there, hopefully the patient will receive a diagnosis and can begin the search for a specialist with expertise in that disease.
How long do patients with rare diseases search for the right doctor?
Patients with rare diseases often search for the right doctor for years.
How long does it take to get a diagnosis for a rare disease?
Global Genes, a rare disease advocacy nonprofit, reports that “patients living with rare disease visit an average of 7.3 physicians before receiving an accurate diagnosis,” a process that takes an average of 4.8 years.
How many people have rare diseases?
To be classified as rare, a disease must affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Global Genes reports there are approximately 7,000 rare diseases and disorders that have been identified so far. More are being discovered every day, but 350 of the known diseases account for the vast majority of rare disease cases in the U.S. Although each individual disease affects only a small number of people – in some cases a single patient – collectively, rare diseases are a major burden in America, impacting about 30 million people, or nearly 10 percent of the population. Eighty percent of these rare diseases are caused by faulty genes, and about 50 percent of the people affected by rare diseases are children. Global Genes reports the grim statistic that 30 percent of children with a rare disease won’t live until age 5. The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases reports that 95 percent of rare disease do not have any Food and Drug Administration-approved drug treatments.
Does lipodystrophy require multiple specialists?
“Not only do rare disease patients have to find one specialist, they often have to find multiple specialists,” Stratton says.
Do rare diseases have an available treatment?
As noted, most rare diseases don’t have an available treatment. [See: Do's and Don'ts of Home Medical Devices .] She says it’s also critical that patients with rare diseases educate themselves as much as possible about the condition because chances are you’ll be the expert in the room with most doctors you see.
Do rare diseases have a cure?
“Just because you have a diagnosis and see a specialist does not mean you’re on the road to a cure.” As noted, most rare diseases don’t have an available treatment.
What is VA therapy?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of mental health services and treatments to aid military veterans.
How does family therapy help veterans?
Family therapy programs help parents explain the deployment process to young children, while support programs are in place to help returning veterans and their family members go through the reintegration process with as few issues as possible . At present, the VA has identified six key ways to assist military families:
Why are military personnel at higher risk for post traumatic stress?
Military personnel are at higher risk for developing posttraumatic stress because service members are intimately involved in wartime incidents that may be frightening, horrifying, and at times, life-threatening. One emotionally overwhelming incident may be enough for PTSD to develop, but combat often facilitates prolonged and repeated exposure to traumatic events.
What are the mental health issues veterans face?
These conditions may include posttraumatic stress (PTSD), depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury (TBI ), and substance abuse, among other issues. Due to the traumatic environment in which active military combatants ...
Why are veterans at a higher risk for mental health issues?
Due to the traumatic environment in which active military combatants serve, veterans are at a significantly higher risk for developing these health concerns. These concerns can often be addressed and resolved with the support of a mental health professional. PTSD in Veterans. Sexual Abuse in the Military. Depression and Anxiety in Veterans.
What are the treatments for traumatic brain injury?
Common treatments for TBIs include rehabilitation therapies (for example, speech-language therapy), medication, assistive devices, and learning strategies to address cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits.
Why do veterans have depression?
Depression and Anxiety in Veterans. Mental health conditions that adversely affect mood, such as depression and anxiety, are also prevalent among military veterans—and veterans may experience these issues for many different reasons. Factors such as poor health (physical and mental), unemployment, and financial difficulties can contribute ...
How long can a veteran wait to see a VA doctor?
Rules established under the law and published Wednesday in the Federal Register say the VA will pay for veterans to see non-VA doctors if they have to wait longer than 20 days or drive more than 30 minutes for primary or mental healthcare at a VA facility.
Can you go to a VA urgent care clinic without approval?
The rules going into effect Thursday also allow veterans to go to non-VA urgent care clinics at VA expense without prior approval, though they may have to pay a co-payment. Trump signed the law last June, known as the VA MISSION Act, but its key provisions didn’t take effect until now.
Who can be apportioned for incarcerated veterans?
All or part of the compensation not paid to an incarcerated Veteran may be apportioned to the Veteran's spouse, child or children, and dependent parents on the basis of individual need. In determining individual need, consideration shall be given to such factors as the claimant's income and living expenses, the amount of compensation available to be apportioned, the needs and living expenses of other claimants as well as any special needs, if any, of all claimants.
What are the benefits of being a justice-involved veteran?
Despite the circumstances, some justice-involved Veterans may be eligible for VA benefits. Disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, Veteran readiness and employment, and burial.
How long is VA disability?
VA disability compensation payments are reduced if a Veteran is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days. Veterans rated 20 percent or more are limited to the 10 percent disability rate. For a Veteran whose disability rating is 10 percent, the payment is reduced by one-half.
How to contact VA for homeless?
Please call VA's National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) to be connected with a homeless coordinator in your area.
When will VA pensions be terminated?
Veterans in receipt of VA pension will have payments terminated effective the 61st day after imprisonment in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for conviction of a felony or misdemeanor . Payments may be resumed upon release from prison if the Veteran meets VA eligibility requirements.
Can a dependent file for apportionment of VA benefits?
An apportionment of an incarcerated Veteran's VA benefits is not granted automatically to the Veteran's dependents. The dependent (s) must file a claim for an apportionment.
Does the VA pay a veteran whose benefits are subject to reduction of the right of the Veteran's dependents
VA will inform a Veteran whose benefits are subject to reduction of the right of the Veteran's dependents to an apportionment while the Veteran is incarcerated, and the conditions under which payments to the Veteran may be resumed upon release from incarceration.
Temporary Ratings (Hospitalization)
Veterans who are hospitalized for more than 21 days for a service-connected disability may receive a temporary 100% disability compensation rating.
Example
A Veteran is considered 40% disabled for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is taken by ambulance to a VA hospital after lapsing into a diabetic coma. He recovered, but required over 21 days of hospitalization due to the coma and infection. His rating was raised to 100% due to hospitalization and then returned to 40%.
