Midway USA, Chapter 16 - Salina, Kansas

Announcements

• FREE VETERANS CONNECTION

  FREE VETERANS CONNECTION

  WHEN: 29 April 2003, 09:00-16:00 (4 PM)

  LOCATION: Hays KS VFW (Southeast side of 22nd and Vine streets

  WHO CAN ATTEND: All Veterans including those still serving KSNG and Reserves

  Family members/caregivers are encouraged to attend with their Veteran

  PURPOSE

  To provide Veterans, caregivers, and family members with information on the Pact act and enrollment/update VA claims. Make Deers appointment to update dependent insurance/ID cards. Make appointments with Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs for records corrections/updates. Make an appointment with a Veterans Cemetery rep if you desire to pre-arrange for a funeral. Vision screening, Blood Glucose check, Vital signs check. V A Rep is available for general V A information, VA Social Worker is available for assistance. Life Lesson stories from Kansas Veterans.

  Come on out, get great information, health and administrative records check, reconnect, enjoy the bond and comradery with great area Veterans. FREE

  Have a hotdog, chips, tea, coffee, or water. Just relax, check into one or two areas or ALL OF THE ABOVE!

  THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TOWARD THIS EVENT!

  Hays VFW, Sons of VFW, American Legion, American Legion Riders chapter 173, Disabled American Veterans chapter 18, Vietnam Veterans of America, Kansas Commission of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Administration, Ellis County EMS Hays Lions Club, Hays Convention/Visitors Bureau, Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney, 997th Brigade Support BN and all Area Veterans!

  GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  RLTW

   

• US Department of Veterans Affairs News Realese

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  Jan. 13, 2023

  
  Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non- VA health care facility for free emergency health care
  WASHINGTON – Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.
  This expansion of care will help prevent Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world- class care to Veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.
  Preventing Veteran suicide is VA’s top clinical priority and a top priority of the Biden- Harris Administration. This effort is a key part of VA’s 10-year National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Biden-Harris administration’s plan for Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide. In September, VA released the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which showed that Veteran suicides decreased in 2020 for the second year in a row, and that fewer Veterans died by suicide in 2020 than in any year since 2006.

  
  “Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency health care they deserve – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they’re enrolled in VA care,” said VA Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. “This expansion of care will save Veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.”
  VA has submitted an interim final rule to the federal register to establish this authority
  under section 201 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020. The final policy, which takes effect on Jan. 17, will allow VA to:
  • Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
  • Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
  • Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
  • Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the
  period of emergency suicide care.
  Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
              
  • Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
  Over the past year, VA has announced or continued several additional efforts to end Veteran suicide, including establishing 988 (then press 1) as a way for Veterans to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7; proposing a new rule that would reduce or eliminate copayments for Veterans at risk of suicide; conducting an ongoing public outreach effort on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety; and leveraging a national Veteran suicide prevention awareness campaign, “Don’t Wait. Reach Out.”
  ###
  Reporters covering this issue can download VA's Safe Messaging Best Practices fact sheet or visit ReportingOnSuicide.org for important guidance on how to communicate about suicide.
  If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

• Important Announcement

  TREA Members, Throughout our history, Servicemembers have suffered exposures to dangerous toxic substances while performing their duties both in combat and in peacetime.  Most recently, a generation of veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas experienced recurring and prolonged exposure to toxic fumes from burn pits and other environmental hazards. As a result, many of them have developed respiratory conditions, cancers, and other serious illnesses, and many have already died. Sadly, far too many continue to struggle to access health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) because they cannot prove their toxic injuries are connected to their service.  As such, we are proud to join 50+ Veteran and Military Service Organizations urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.  If enacted, this comprehensive legislation would finally correct this injustice by guaranteeing exposed veterans permanent access to VA care and establish a list of conditions that are presumed to be linked to exposures so that impacted veterans receive their full benefits. Additionally, this bill would provide justice for exposed Camp Lejeune veterans, expand long overdue Agent Orange presumptions, enhance VA research, training, and screening related to toxic exposures, and improve VA claims processing, workforce recruitment and retention, and infrastructure.  In effort to get this historic legislation across the finish line, we ask that you please contact your Senators and urge them to vote "yea" on this bipartisan agreement as soon as possible.  The time is now to correct this injustice for our servicemembers and veterans who suffer from toxic exposure related illnesses.    Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: @TheEnlistedAssn               Twitter: @TREA_DC                         Linkedin: @TheEnlistedAssociation