Va Now Processing Pact Act Benefits Claims For All Veterans And Survivors
News release from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
WASHINGTON On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs began processing PACT Act benefit claims for all Veterans and their survivors.
The PACT Act is the most significant expansion of Veteran benefits and care in more than three decades, empowering VA to help millions of toxic exposed Veterans and their survivors. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law Aug. 10, more than 213,000 PACT Act-related claims for benefits have been submitted. Additionally, more than 959,000 Veterans have received VAs new toxic exposure screenings, with nearly 39% reporting a concern of exposure.
The PACT Act is the least we can do for the countless men and womenwho suffered toxic exposure while serving their country, said President Biden during the PACT Act bill signing ceremony. It means access to life insurance, home loan insurance, tuition benefits, and help with healthcare. It means new facilities, improved care, more research, and increased hiring and retention of healthcare workers treating Veterans.
We at VA are ready to process these claims and deliver PACT Act-related care and benefits to toxic exposed Veterans and their survivors, said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. To all Veterans and survivors: dont wait, apply now we will get you the care and benefits you deserve.
Governor Signs Proclamation Commemorating Pow/mia Recognition Day In Florida
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the annual POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florida Proclamation. Sept. 16, 2022 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Florida commends and affirms that our Nation is not deterred from pursuing missions to account as fully as possible for our service members who are still missingREAD MORE »
Youre Already Trained For It
A staggering one in seven franchises is owned by a military Veteran. No surprise. Especially when you consider that a franchise operating manual is pretty similar to the operating manuals we used to operate military weapons, tanks, aircraft, ships, submarines and drones.
That franchise operating manual took lots of time and money to perfect. When you buy into a franchise, you benefit by learning from someone elses mistakes.
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Capitol Ceremony Honors 15 Inductees Into Florida Veterans Hall Of Fame
TALLAHASSEE Fifteen Florida Veterans were inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame before a capacity crowd at the Florida Capitol on April 27. Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Executive Director James S. Hammer Hartsell presided over the ceremony for the members of the Class of 2021. The class was theREAD MORE »
You Dont Need Business Or Industry Experience
Never owned a business before? Dont have experience in the industry? No problem.
Franchises train you. Then they follow up with a franchisor team that provides services like marketing, accounting set-up, vendor relations, operating, pricing and more. On top of that, you have a team of fellow franchise owners who support one another.
Unlike a stand-alone business where it can be lonely at the top, the franchising model is being in business for yourself, not by yourself. Franchising is a business in a box, with a tremendous support network.
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Louisiana Department Of Veterans Affairs
Help us help vets with an individual contribution in your community. The best way to impact the vets around you is with hands-on assistance through your business, a veteran service organization, and in your community. You can also help our emergency aid initiative with a donation to the Military Family Assistance Fund.
Florida Observes Veteran Suicide Prevention Month
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the annual Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month Proclamation, reminding Floridians of the states pledge to offer support and resources for those who have ensured our nation remains free. Florida encourages Veterans in need to call the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFLVet READ MORE »
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Governor Ron Desantis Announced Three New Initiatives To Elevate Teachers And Students Learning
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. Governor Ron DeSantis announced Aug. 16 three proposals for the 2023 Legislative Session that will help support and grow Floridas teaching workforce and leverage the talents of Floridas retired veterans and first responders. The proposals include a recruitment initiative targeted to bring retired first responders andREAD MORE »
Top Five Reasons Why Veterans Should Consider Opening A Franchise
The new year is a popular time to reconsider your professional future. Lets talk about an option that doesnt get enough air time with Veterans. Its something different than getting a new job or going back to school. Lets talk about starting a franchise.
Owning a business through franchising is a perfect hybrid between working for an organization and starting your own business from scratch.
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Rebuilding The Departments Infrastructure And Staffing
In his upcoming budget request, Secretary McDonough must put aside funding specifically for beginning to fill the departments 50,000 empty positions and addressing the departments aging infrastructure, which has been in place for an average of 58 years.35 Additionally, when the secretary appoints his leadership team, he must ensure that his choices reflect the diversity that exists within the active-duty and veteran community.
Va Hosts Pact Act Benefits Open Houses In Florida
Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs A new law called the PACT Act just expanded VA health care and benefits for Floridas Veterans and their survivors. The PACT Act was perhaps the largest expansion of Veteran eligibility in VAs history. If you served during the Vietnam War, GulfREAD MORE »
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Expanding Veterans Access To Disability Benefits
Secretary McDonough must also work to reduce the VAs massive backlog17 of compensation and pension exams, which a veteran must receive in order to be granted disability benefits. Many exams have been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic: As of March 2021, 357,000 exam requests were pending. This is nearly three times the amount of exams that were pending in February 2020. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office ,18 VA leaders have not yet developed a clear long-term plan to address the issue.
Hurricane Ian Information For Veterans
The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center provides 24/7, virtual care and support to Veterans enrolled for VA Health Care in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Veterans who receive care in the network can call 1-877-741-3400 around the clock to get their health questions or concerns answered fromREAD MORE »
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President Signs Pact Act Expanding Veterans Health Care And Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. President Biden signed into law today new legislation that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Known as the PACT Act, the legislation empowers the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide much-needed benefits and care to millions ofREAD MORE »
First Lady Casey Desantis Announces Continue The Mission Initiative
PENSACOLA, Fla. First Lady Casey DeSantis announced June 22 the launch of the Continue the Mission initiative, which will recruit veterans, military spouses and former law enforcement officers to be child protective investigators and Department of Children and Families case managers, as well as mentors to children inREAD MORE »
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Utility Power Restored At Douglas T Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. Officials at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home report that Florida Power & Light has fully restored their utilities as of 11:11 a.m. today. The skilled-nursing facility was on full generator power for seven days following landfall of Hurricane Ian last week. # #READ MORE »
Vets First Podcast S2 Bonus: Learning About Covid
In this episode of the Vets First Podcast, hosts Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview Dr. Alejandro Pezzulo, a pulmonologist, and assistant professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa. This episode was recorded in August 2021 during the height of the pandemic’s Delta wave. We think this is an interesting look into COVID-19 with a critical care provider.
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Fifteen Florida Veterans Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet voted unanimously today to induct 15 veterans into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. The names for the Class of 2021 were presented for a formal vote during the March 29 Cabinet Meeting by FDVA Executive Director James S. Hammer Hartsell. TheREAD MORE »
Cfo Patronis Highlights Military Saves Month
TALLAHASSEE Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is celebrating April as Military Saves Month by encouraging Floridas active military members and veterans to pay off debt and prepare for the future by creating an achievable savings plan. Military Saves Month is a month-long national effort to encourage the military communityREAD MORE »
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Attorney General Recognizes National Military Consumer Protection Month By Highlighting Resources For Service Members
TALLAHASSEE To recognize Military Consumer Protection Month, Attorney General Ashley Moody is highlighting the plethora of resources available for service members through the Florida Attorney Generals Office. More than 1.5 million veterans, 100,000 service members and their families call Florida home. Unfortunately, there are scammers who focus on members ofREAD MORE »
Ten Florida Veterans Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet voted unanimously today to induct 10 Veterans into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. The names for the Class of 2022 were presented for a formal vote during the Aug. 23 Cabinet Meeting by FDVA Executive Director James S. Hammer Hartsell. TheREAD MORE »
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Addressing The Ballooning Va Budget
The VA budget has grown rapidly and significantly5 since 9/11. In FY 2001, its budget was $40 billion by 2009, President Barack Obamas first year in office and before the full impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was felt, it had risen to $94 billion. The FY 2021 budget that Congress passed in December 2020 allocated a whopping $243 billion to the VAan increase of more than $200 billion, or 500 percent, since 9/11. From FY 2020 to FY 2021 alone, the VA budget increased by 14 percent, an increase higher than that of any other federal agency. As a result, the VA now has the second-largest discretionary budget in the federal government, trailing only the Pentagon. Its budget is greater than the combined budgets of the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, and the entire intelligence community.6
This rapid increase is a result of several factors, including the large cohort of aging Vietnam War veterans and the increase in veterans from all generations using the VA for health care, especially the 4.1 million post-9/11 veterans.10 It is also due to the increasing cost of health care in the United States, the introduction of federal programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Announces Launch Of Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program
CAPE CORAL, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced today the June 1, 2022 launch of the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program to help Floridians in over 50 critical professions purchase their first home. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program will be available to Floridians including law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees,READ MORE »
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First Lady Casey Desantis Wishes Veteran A Happy 101st Birthday Following Hurricane Ian
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. First Lady Casey DeSantis visited the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home in Port Charlotte and met with residents who weathered out the storm at the nursing home. One of the residents, Anna Wojtalik, celebrated her 101st birthday on Thursday, September 29, following Hurricane Ian.READ MORE »
Theres A Franchise For Everyone
Franchises are all restaurants, right? Wrong! If you can think of a service or product, theres probably a franchise for it.
Franchises run the gamut from home services, senior care, fitness, childcare, tutoring, real estate and much, much more. There are even franchises for removing junk, painting lines in parking lots, mobile flooring retailers and yes, dog-walking!
All told, there are over 2,000 different franchise brands available today.
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First Lady Casey Desantis Meets With Residents And Staff At The Douglas T Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis joined the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Executive Director James Hartsell to visit the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home. As the most veteran friendly state in the nation, Florida is committed to serving those who dedicated their lives to ourREAD MORE »
Va Health Care Closures For Saturday Oct 1
VA Sunshine Healthcare Network Post Hurricane Ian Operational Status Update for Saturday, October 1, 2022 Clinic Updates & Other Information Veterans experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency should call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest open emergency room. For virtual care and support, please call VA Health Connect (alsoREAD MORE »
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Florida Honors Gold Star Family Members
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the annual Gold Star Family Day in Florida Proclamation. We honor all Gold Star Family Members for their courage and tenacity in the face of the tremendous sacrifices made by their loved ones. Never forget. Sunday, Sept. 25 is Gold Star Family Day.READ MORE »
Attorney General Moody Highlights Resources For Service Members And Their Loved Ones In Recognition Of Military Family Appreciation Month
TALLAHASSEE Attorney General Ashley Moody is highlighting resources for service members and their loved ones in recognition of Military Family Appreciation Month. Due to service members unique lifestyle, such as relocating regularly, scammers may target those who risk their lives to keep the U.S. safe. Attorney General Ashley Moody said,READ MORE »
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Veterans Face Extended Delays For Referrals For Specialty Care Outside Va Facilities Watchdog Finds
Less than half of veterans are receiving Department of Veterans Affairs referrals for specialty care from outside doctors on time, a new report published Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office found.
Those specialist visits can be crucial because veterans often have complicated or chronic illnesses and, while the VA system excels at treating service-connected conditions such as prosthetics and musculoskeletal injuries, it may lack certain specialists or capacity in the immediate area near a veteran. The referral program to community care is designed to ensure that veterans get the care they need when they need it.
Current scheduling standards are three business days within the VA for a specialty referral and seven days for scheduling an appointment with a community care provider, a doctor outside of a VA facility.
The GAO found that in the third quarter of 2022, more than 90% of all VA medical centers scheduled at least half their appointments within three business days. But fewer than 40% of the facilities scheduled appointments within the 7-day time frame set for community care.
In some locations, veterans waited an average of 12 days to have their specialty care appointment scheduled in house and nearly 34 days in the community.
In its response to the report, the VA concurred.
Sanders Will Appoint Stubbs Secretary Of The Military Penn Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Wednesday she will nominate Brig. Gen. Jon Stubbs as secretary of the military and adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard.
Sanders also announced she will nominate the current Arkansas National Guard adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Kendall Penn, as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I will be appointing two high-caliber individuals with decades of military experience who will lead with honor and integrity — BG Jon Stubbs as the adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard and Major General Kendall Penn as the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Sanders said in a news release.
Stubbs is deputy director for operations, readiness and mobilization at the Department of the Army at the Pentagon. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1993, earning his commission in 1995. Originally from Tennessee, Stubbs has spent the majority of his career — 27 of his 29 years in uniform — with the Arkansas National Guard, according to the release. From 2018 to 2019, Stubbs served as chief of staff in the Arkansas Army National Guard.
In 2021, Stubbs was promoted to brigadier general and took a position as vice director for operations at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va.
In a news release, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers said Stubbs and Penn are “proven leaders who have a deep love and understanding of the uniform and Arkansas.”
The others include:
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There Are Going To Be Hiccups
Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the committee, said that everyone expects there are going to be hiccups implementing the sweeping law thats the largest expansion of health care and benefits in the VAs history.
Veterans who previously filed claims will now hear of many more of their brothers and sisters joining them in line, Tester said. But the VA must ensure that each of them gets the right decision as quickly as possible.
As more new faces show up in hospital waiting rooms, Tester said, VA must ensure they get the quality care they deserve. He also noted that while the panel will work on some new legislation during the next Congress, the committees primary focus will be on oversight of the VA.
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, the top Republican on the committee, said his main priority for the panel is the appropriate, sufficient implementation of the legislation Congress has passed, including the PACT Act.
Shereef Elnahal, under secretary for health, said the VA is working to reach every veteran who may qualify for new benefits and care to make sure they are aware of what the toxic exposure law does and how to apply for benefits.
Department leaders are looking to increase staffing to handle the influx of veterans and to start on groundbreaking new research on toxic exposure, Elnahal said.