OEF/OIF/ONDHealth & Benefits

Overview

VA

Department of Veterans Affairs(VA)

Department of Veterans Affairs(VA)

V ete ra nsH ea lth

A dm in istra tion(V H A )

V ete ra nsB e ne fi ts

A dm in istra tion(V B A )

N ation a lC e m ete ry

A dm in istra tion(N C A )

D e pa r tm e nt o fV e te ran s A ffa irs

(V A )

OEF/OIF/ONDProgram

OEF/OIF/ONDProgram

Program Manager

Nurse & Social WorkerCase Managers

Transition Patient

Advocate

Other Case Managers(VIST, SCI,

Women Veterans,

Polytrauma)

Program Support (Clerical)

Programs located at all VA Medical Centers

VISN 11 VA Medical Centers in the “Mitten”

VISN 12 VA Medical Centers in the “U.P.”

Iron Mountain (Oscar G Johnson VAMC)

Hancock:Hancock Clinic

Ironwood:Ironwood Clinic

Manistique:Manistique Outreach Clinic

Marquette:Marquette Clinic

Menominee:Menominee Clinic

Sault Ste. Marie:Sault Ste. Marie Clinic

Demographics: Michigan

Total Veterans: 658,469 Total male Veterans: 612,221 Total female Veterans: 46,249 Gulf War Veterans: 155, 745

http://www.va.gov/vetdata/VeteranPopulation.asp Sep 2014

Characteristics of OEF/OIF/OND Population

Younger (18-29)– joined military for reasons of: Patriotism – post 9-11 National need Family history Education and career training Need for comradeship and guidance • 65-70% have had multiple deployments creating major disruptions to

their families and careers • Many come home to experience relationship problems, re-employment

problems, financial distress and other domestic issues. • Smaller segment of older (29-50) individuals with similar but different

needs – many have more resources so financial problems and/or employment issues are not as prevalent – relationship issues exist as does a powerful desire to maintain military career status

OEF/OIF/OND

1,791,420 Veterans have become eligible for

VA health care since 2002 --• Of the total: 59% are former Active Duty

and 41% are National Guard or Reservists • 92% of Veterans seen at VA have been outpatients and

~7% have been hospitalized at least once in a VA health care facility

VA Healthcare Utilization – Cumulative from 1st quarter 2002, to 2nd QTR FY2014

National Data on Diagnoses among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

Diseases of Musculoskeletal System 60.0% Mental Disorders 56.1% Signs/symptoms of Ill Defined 55.8% Nervous system/Sensory 48.7% Digestive system 37.1% Endocrine/Nutritional systems 36.3% Injury/Poisonings 31.3%

National Data on Diagnoses cont. Top 7 on previous slide Remainder of the most common medical problems range

from Respiratory system (28.3%) to infectious/parasitic and neoplasms that are in lower or single percentages (4.6 to 1.6%)

What we see locally mirrors the national statistics -- • Muscle/joint problems – • MH problems – • Hard to define or multi symptom presentations

VA Health Care Utilization among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, Cumulative from 1st Qtr. FY 2002 to 2nd Qtr., FY2014.

Health Issues

“Nothing is pure” with this group – very seldom see one stand alone medical problem -

Comorbid conditions are the norm -- Musculoskeletal Problems + psychosocial or mental health problems

of anxiety, depression and PTSD are very common –(approximately 85% of service members present with this combination)

Musculoskeletal problems of back, hips, neck, shoulders are believed to be caused by the weight of battle gear + other equipment

> Mental health symptoms are thought to impact service members for a variety of reasons: multiple deployments, no or little down time (constant vigilance), no front line (who is the enemy), different tactics (IED’s & secondary devices) –Service Members must develop keen skills to survive and many of these adaptations do not subside when returning home

Airborne Hazard and Open Burn Pit Registry

Veterans and Servicemembers who were close to burn pit smoke or exposed for longer periods may be at greater risk for health problems.

Veterans can complete an online questionnaire about burn pit exposures and request an in-person exam. The registry can be accessed at: http://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry

Additional information can be accessed at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov or call 1-877-222-8387

Airborne Hazards

Veterans of Southwest Asia theater of operations after Aug 2, 1990 (Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield)

OEF/OIF/OND: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea, and airspace above these locations.

Djibouti, Africa after Sep 11, 2001

Burn Pits

Basic Healthcare Eligibility

24 continuous months (unless discharged for hardship, injury)

Discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

24 continuous months (unless discharged for hardship, injury)

Discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

Enrollment Requirements

What We Need From You

DD-214 copy

VA Form 10-10EZ

What We Need From You

DD-214 copy

VA Form 10-10EZ

Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom,

& New Dawn

VA provides enhanced enrollment opportunity and five years of cost-free health care

to veterans who served in a theater of combat operations,

for any injury or illness associated with this service

VA provides enhanced enrollment opportunity and five years of cost-free health care

to veterans who served in a theater of combat operations,

for any injury or illness associated with this service

Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom,

& New Dawn

The five year window of care starts over with each additional

deployment to a theater of combat operations

The five year window of care starts over with each additional

deployment to a theater of combat operations

Non-Service RelatedIssues

Veterans who experience Non-Service related illness/injuries Post Deployment may be charged a co-pay at VA for treatment of these conditions i.e. flu, colds, auto accident

Veterans who experience Non-Service related illness/injuries Post Deployment may be charged a co-pay at VA for treatment of these conditions i.e. flu, colds, auto accident

Women Veteran Programs

Women Veterans may receive full continuum of medical benefits package women’s family planning and birth control, gender-

specific health care, e.g. hormone replacement therapy, breast and GYN care, maternity, limited infertility

Special considerations Each VAMC has a Women Veterans Program Manager

Medical Benefits Combat Deployment Screening Primary Care Services Prescription Services Mental Health Optometry Audiology Speech Pathology Neurology Dermatology & Wound Care Physical Medicine & Rehab (KT, PT, OT, Spinal Cord Injury)

www.vetcenter.va.gov

Serving Combat Veterans

VET CENTER SERVICES Vet Center Staff include Combat Veterans

(Veterans serving Veterans)

Individual Counseling

Group Counseling

Military Sexual Trauma Counseling

Marital/Family Counseling

Bereavement Counseling

Drug and Alcohol Referral

Liaison with VA & Community Resources

Benefits Assistance Referral

Community Education and Career Referral

Michigan Vet Centers

Dearborn Vet Center: 313-277-1428 Detroit Vet Center: 313-831-6509 Escanaba Vet Center: 906- 233-0244 Grand Rapids Vet Center: 612-285-5795 Macomb County Vet Center: 586-412-0107 Pontiac Vet Center: 248-874-1015 Saginaw Vet Center: 989-321-4650 Traverse City Vet Center: 231-935-0051

• Compensation

• Education

• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

• Life Insurance

• Home Loan Guaranty

VBA Benefits & Services

• Burial for Veteran and Spouse

• Headstone, Flag, and perpetual care

• Nationwide Gravesite Locator

• 800-535-1117 or www.cem.va.gov

National Cemeteries

Local VA ContactsVA Medical Centers:

Ann Arbor VAMC: 1-800-361-8387 OEF/OIF/OND Program 734-845-3787Battle Creek VAMC: 1-800-214-1247 Toll Free OEF/OIF/OND Program 269-966-5600 x35308Detroit VAMC: 1-800-511-8056 OEF/OIF/OND Program Saginaw VAMC: 1-989-497-2500 OEF/OIF/OND Program 989-497-2500 x11794Iron Mountain VAMC: 1-800-215-8262 OEF/OIF/OND Program 1-906-774-3300 x32708

VA Regional Office (VBA):Detroit Regional Office: 1-800-827-1000www.va.gov