** The Department of Veterans Affairs reports new disability eligibility for veterans who served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 and those who were exposed to herbicides outside of Vietnam.
For more information, visit:
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/benefits.asp
DEDICATED AMERICAN PARKINSON DISEASE ASSOCIATION VETERAN INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CENTER FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Mission: A Centralized resource dedicated to improving the lives of Veterans with Parkinson’s disease. The dedicated Veteran Information and Referral (I&R) center is located in Reno, Nevada. The American Parkinson Disease Association Inc. (APDA) and Sierra Nevada Healthcare System (SNHCS) have a joint affiliation to provide information, educational resources, and referral to veterans, their families, physicians and allied health professionals involved in the treatment of Parkinson disease. Any veteran, family member, physician or other medical professional involved in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is able to contact the center at 1-888-838-6256, extension 1715 for information.
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, community living centers, domiciliaries, and readjustment counseling centers. For additional information on VA health care, visit www.va.gov/health.
Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also qualify for VA health care benefits if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a Federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.
Enrollment: For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, on line at www.va.gov/1010ez.htm or by calling 1-877-222-VETS. Once enrolled, veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.
Priority Groups: During enrollment, each veteran is assigned to a priority group. VA uses priority groups to balance demand for VA health care enrollment with resources. Currently, the 2009 Veterans Benefits Package contains eight priority groups.
For more information on Chapter 1 Priority Groups you can go to www.va.gov-opa-vadocs-fedben.pdf.url.
Recently Discharged Combat Veterans: Effective January 28, 2008, veterans discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for enhanced enrollment placement into Priority Groups 6 (unless eligible for higher enrollment Priority Group placement) for five-years post discharge. Veterans with combat service after November 11, 1998, who were discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, and who apply for enrollment on or after January 28, 2008, are eligible for this enhanced enrollment benefit through January 27, 2011. During this period of enhanced enrollment benefits, these veterans receive VA care and medications at no cost for any condition that may be related to their combat service.
Special Access to Care - Service-Disabled Veterans: Veterans who are 50 percent or more disabled from service-connected conditions, unemployable due to service-connected conditions, or receiving care fro a service-connected disability receive priority in scheduling of hospital or outpatient medical appointments.
Financial Assessment: Most veterans not receiving VA disability compensation or pension payments must provide information on their gross annual household income and net worth to determine whether they are below the annually adjusted financial thresholds.
VA Medical Services and Medication Co-pays: Some veterans must make co-pays to receive VA health care and/or medications.
Inpatient Care: Priority Group 7 and certain other veterans are responsible for paying 20 percent of VA’s inpatient co-pay or $213.60 for the first 90 days of inpatient hospital care during any 365-day period. For each additional 90 days, the charge is $106.80. In addition there is a $2 per diem charge. Priority Group 8 and certain other veterans are responsible for VA’s inpatient co-pay of $1,068 for the first 90 days of acre during any 365-day period. For each additional 90 days, the charge is $534. In addition, there is a $10 per diem charge.
Extended Care: For extended care services, veterans may be subject to a co-pay determined by information supplied by completing a VA Form 10-10EC.
Medication: Most veterans are charged $8 for each 30-day or less supply of medication provided by VA for treatment of conditions that are not service-connected.
Outpatient Care: A three-tiered co-pay system is used for all outpatient services. The co-pay is $15 for a primary care visit and $50 for some specialized care. Certain services are not charged a co-pay.
VA Medical Programs:
The following Veteran Health Registries are available:
• Gulf War Registry
• Depleted Uranium Registries
• Agent Orange Registry
• Ionizing Radiation Registry
For more information visit www.va.gov/environagents
Please contact the VA for the following programs:
• Readjustment Counseling
• Bereavement Counseling
• Prosthetic and Sensory Aids
• Home Improvements and Structural Alterations
• Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Veterans
• Mental Health Care Treatment
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Work Restoration Programs
• Domiciliary Care
• Outpatient Dental Treatment
• Nursing Home Care
• Emergency Medical Care in Non-VA Facilities
• VA’s Foreign Medical Program
• Online Health Services My HealtheVet www.myhealth.va.gov
For more information about enrollment and Medical Benefits Package go to: www.va.gov/health.
PADRECC Centers
The Department of Veterans Affairs has created six specialized centers known as Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers or “PADRECCs”. These six centers are designed to treat veterans faced with Parkinson’s disease throughout the United States. The Philadelphia PADRECC services New England. To contact the center visit www.va.gov/padrecc or call toll free: (888) 959-2323.