Montana VA Health Care System Encourages Veterans and Families to File Claims After PACT Act Passes | New

Here is a press release from the US Department of Veterans Affairs:

HELENA, Mont.—The Montana VA (Montana VA) Health Care System encourages all Montana veterans and their families to consider the potential benefits available to them through the new PACT Act legislation.

On August 10, 2022, the PACT law was enacted.

“The PACT Act is a landmark new law that will help VA provide services to millions of veterans – and their survivors – by allowing us to provide care and presumptive benefits to veterinarians with more than 20 life-related conditions. toxic exposure,” Secretary VA Denis said. McDonough. “It will also bring generations of veterans into VA healthcare, which will improve veteran health outcomes at every level.”

The PACT Act expands and expands VA health care eligibility for substance-exposed veterans and veterans of the Vietnam-era, Gulf War, and post-9/11 era, and expands the eligibility for benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. For veterans after 9/11, the bill extends the time period they have to enroll in VA health care from five to ten years after discharge. For veterans who fall outside this window, the bill also creates a one-year open enrollment period. These extensions mean more veterans can enroll in VA health care without having to demonstrate a service-related disability.

Veterans can start filing applications now.

“We are grateful for the opportunities the PACT Act provides our veterans,” said Dr. Judy Hayman, executive director of the Montana VA Health Care System. “Our Veterans deserve the highest quality care. This law helps us provide generations of veterans – and their survivors – with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve.

The PACT Act should reduce the amount of paperwork and streamline the examination process for veterans. This will cover specific conditions such as respiratory conditions, as well as several forms of cancer including reproductive cancers, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer and brain cancers such as glioblastoma.

Surviving family members of veterans who died due to one of these conditions may now also be eligible for benefits.

Montana veterans and their family members can learn more about the PACT Act by going to www.va.gov/PACT or by calling 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411).

Montana VA serves more than 47,000 registered veterans across Montana, an area of ​​approximately 147,000 square miles. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 18 care sites across the state. One-third of Montana VA employees are veterans. Veterans can log into their VA health care records, information, and message their VA care teams around the clock through the MyHealtheVet patient portal (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/how-to-use-mhv). Montana VA information, updates and events are available on the Montana VA website (https://www.va.gov/montana-health-care) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VAMontana).

About Antoine L. Cassell

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