A recent report by the Associated Press sheds light on the fact that a stronger commitment to caring for our women veterans is needed.
And just as more and more veterans are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, more and more of them are women. Even the head of the VA’s office of women’s health acknowledges that persistent shortcomings remain in caring for the 390,000 female veterans seen last year at VA Medical Centers and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) — despite an investment of more than $1.3 billion since 2008.
Despite this investment, problems abound, which are listed below in more detail. The bottom-line is that the VA is falling behind on care for all of our veterans. And for women in particular, VA Medical Centers and CBOCs have yet to keep pace with the rising numbers.
With more than $1.3 billion spent in the past six years on women’s health, the problem is delivery and execution. The same is true for the veterans enduring egregiously long wait-times. So while the VA is ironing out its other problems, this is also an opportune time to re-evaluate the processes related to how care is delivered to our women veterans.
Among the shortcomings for women’s care:
- Nearly 25% of VA Medical Centers do not have a full-time gynecologist on staff. And 140 of the 920 CBOCs serving rural areas do not have a designated women’s health provider.
- When a CBOC refers veterans to a university or other private medical facility to be screened for breast cancer, more than half the time their mammogram results are not provided to patients within two weeks, as required under VA policy.
- Female veterans are placed on the VA’s Electronic Wait List at a higher rate than male veterans, meaning their wait times are often over 90 days.
- And according to a VA presentation last year, female veterans of child-bearing age were far more likely to be given medications that can cause birth defects than were women being treated through a private HMO.
With their numbers increasing, there is no choice but to put more focus on women veterans and confront these issues head on. Indeed, we need to elevate the level of care for all our veterans, and ensure the men and women who served our country get what they deserve.
Read more on this issue on the AP Report published online in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/22/veterans-affairs-womens-health_n_5519796.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (ret.)
General Fausone served her country for 36 years in the US Air Force and Michigan National Guard as a nurse and medical officer. Carol Ann continues serving by “Taking Care of Our American Heroes and their Families” to obtain the benefits they deserve.
If you need help with your VA benefits claim, contact Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC and learn more at www.LegalHelpForVeterans.com.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
The post It’s Time for a Stronger Commitment to Women Veterans first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>A POS (point-of-service) plan is a hybrid of a health maintenance organization (HMO) and a preferred provider org… http://p.ost.im/826yE2
The post What Is a POS Plan? first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>http://adviate.ch/1bN1CpZ
Whether you know it or not, with all the changes over the last few years in the health care field, health care has become more simplified. It might not seem like it, but health reform has begun to make its presence known. One of the major things you should notice is that when you are shopping for affordable health insurance, it actually is affordable. It will also, across the board, come with several basic options, no matter who you choose to buy your policy from in the first place. In short, the industry now has some standardized rules that may benefit those still looking to buy insurance before 2014.
One thing in your favor is that there is now no lifetime cap. At one time insurance companies capped people out between $2 and $5 million. While many individuals would likely not run bills that high, a family facing critical illness would run through that amount in no time flat. Without the lifetime cap, consumers have more health security.
Another bit of good news is that insurance companies must cover the costs of any wellness exams you may have — 100 percent of the cost, not just a portion. Furthermore, the exams are not subject to a deductible or co-pay. It goes without saying that wellness checkups only make good sense. Get yourself checked out once a year and stay healthy and well. This is a benefit not just to you, but to the health care system, as healthy people don’t need to see the doctor as much. Additionally, these days all children under the age of 19 may qualify for an individual health insurance plan, whether they have pre-existing conditions or not.
What suits you? Take the time to find out what is out there now, as it is radically different than even four years ago. There are more policies, more choices, more options and more flexibility. Just about anything you can conceive of in terms of health insurance coverage is now possible. It’s a buyer’s market for a change and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that what you once thought was impossible, is now not only possible, but reasonably priced and fits you like a glove.
Just remember, there are still tons of health insurance plans available when you shop online. Choose from HMO, major medical, PPO, HSA plans, co-pay plans and so forth. Confusing? Maybe, but that’s when you get smart and work with your broker. They know their products and if you tell them what you need, they can find it for you a lot faster than you can. Shopping for affordable health insurance is no longer like having a root canal.
To learn more click here and get a health insurance quote, visit http://www.benepath.com
