100% Disabled Vets Now Authorized
Space “A”When
President Trump signed into law the new National Defense Authorization
Act, disabled veterans were granted a huge travel perk that has
virtually gone unnoticed. Under the new
Disabled Veterans Access to Space-A Travel Act, veterans with a
service-connected, permanent disability rating of 100% can hop on any
scheduled or unscheduled military flight within the continental United
States (and scheduled overseas flights) operated by Air Mobility Command
(AMC). Clarification on whether or not required caregiver
accompaniment is authorized has not yet been promulgated.
To sign up for Space A Travel complete AMC Form 140,
Space Available Travel Request (https://www.amc.af.mil/Portals/12/documents/AFD-140926-014.pdf)
form and e-mail it to your desired AMC Passenger Terminal. Info
you need to complete the form includes:
·
Email address
·
Personal information (Rank/Grade, First Middle Last Name)
·
Service Branch (AF, Army, Marines, Navy, CG)
·
Status (Active, Guard, Reserve, Retired, Disabled Veteran, etc.)
·
Other Travelers (dependents names)
·
Total number of seats required
·
Travel status (See Travel Eligibility-Category I-VI). The form has
not yet been modified to reflect 100% disability eligibility. In
the interim suggest use Category VI until otherwise advised.
·
Overseas Travel Ready Status (Have Required Passports/Visas etc.)
·
5-Destinations (Sign-up for up to 5 Destinations e.g. Germany, USA,
Japan, Alaska, or Hawaii)
Note: Do Not Provide Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as
Social Security Numbers (SSNs)
The NDAA
also includes provisions to allow Purple Heart and Medal of Honor
recipients, former prisoners of war and veterans with disabilities
connected to their military service to shop at the discounted on-base
commissary store. It also extends that access to veteran caregivers.
In addition, the NDAA also expands access to Morale, Welfare and
Recreation and Post Exchange privileges to these Purple Heart
recipients, service-connected disabled veterans, former POWs, and their
caregivers.
Sources: USVCP, August 15, 2018 & Stars and Stripes, August 7,
2018
VA Mission Act
►
A Glimpse
Inside VA’s Major Overhaul The
VA MISSION Act is the most massive comprehensive health care reform bill
and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on 6 JUN. VA has
quietly begun working on implementing these major changes but recognizes
it can't do so without veterans' help. VA wants to know what
questions veterans have about the VA MISSION Act as VA moves forward in
rolling out these huge health system changes. While MOAA and other
veteran service organizations (VSO) have started working with VA to
implement the legislation, veterans are central to making the
transformation smooth and in helping the department meet the very tight
deadline mandated by Congress.
One
of the most significant changes veterans will see in the next few months
is the elimination of the Veterans Choice Program, established in 2014,
to provide temporary relief and help VA rebuild internal capacity to
reduce long wait times for veterans seeking health care. A new,
streamlined community care program will replace Choice and consolidate
multiple community care programs currently managed by VA into a single
program. A few other major changes veterans can expect to
see are:
-
The expansion of VA's comprehensive caregiver support program,
opening up the program to eligible pre-9/11 veterans;
-
Veterans and their doctors will be able to decide the best option on
where the veteran should get their care, whether inside VA or in the
community;
-
More telehealth programs; and,
-
Walk-in health care services with local community providers.
Congress
gave VA one year from the enactment of the MISSION Act to replace the
Choice Program and two years to implement the caregiver program
expansion. Last week, VA provided a little peek it is working
toward to combine and implement the new community care program and
walk-in care services over the next year.
-
Phase 1, June - October 2018. Build the operating structure, access
and eligibility criteria, new veteran care contract agreements, and
new competency standards for community providers; and, draft
regulations.
-
Phase 2, November 2018 - February 2019. Complete and test the
operating structure and elements initiated in Phase 1; continue
rollout of the new community care provider network; begin educating
and training VA staff; and, finalized regulations.
-
Phase 3, March - June 2019. Transition and begin operation of the
new walk-in care and community care program; continue educating VA
staff; continue rollout of new community care provider network;
begin using new competency standards for community providers;
publish regulations; and, end the Choice Program.
VA
needs you to send them your questions about the VA MISSION Act that you
want. To help get you started, here are a couple questions we think
veterans will want to know:
-
How can veterans expect VA to communicate with them as progress is
made in implementing the MISSION Act and how can veterans provide
feedback throughout the process?
-
What does walk-in care mean and will I be charged for getting this
care outside of my VA medical center?
Now, what questions are on your mind? You are requested to send
your questions to legis@moaa.org
and MOAA will share your questions with VA as well any communication and
marketing materials as they become available.
Source: Excerpted from The MOAA Newsletter, Rene Campos, August
16, 2018
|
