Disabled Veterans Get Health Care Priority from VA

Disabled Veterans Get Health Care Priority from VA

(EXCERPT) Friday January 2, 11:01 am ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- All veterans with service-connected
medical problems will receive priority access to health care from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under a new directive.

"Caring for veterans with service-connected medical problems is a
major reason VA exists," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi. "This directive should ease the minds of veterans who no
longer have to wait for health care appointments."

The new directive provides that all veterans requiring care for a
service- connected disability -- regardless of the extent of their
injury -- must be scheduled for a primary care evaluation within 30
days of their request for care. If a VA facility is unable to schedule
an appointment within 30 days, it must arrange for care at another VA
facility, at a contract facility or through a sharing agreement.

The directive covers hospitalization and outpatient care. It does not
apply to care for medical problems not related to a service-connect...

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Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com