Health Care

The Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring qualified individuals to join the benefits team as VA begins processing PACT Act claims starting in January 2023.These new VA employees will help ensure Veterans and survivors get the PACT Act-related benefits they've earned in a timely manner.

As of today, more than 1 million Veterans have downloaded the Department of Veterans Affairs' new VA: Health and Benefits mobile app for fast, secure, on-demand access to the health care and benefits they've earned.

Today, on National Cancer Awareness Day, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will prioritize the processing of Veterans' benefits claims for cancers associated with the PACT Act. VA will expedite these claims to ensure Veterans with cancer are getting timely access to the care and benefits they need and deserve.

Beginning tomorrow, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics across the country will offer enrolled Veterans a new toxic exposure screening. These screenings are a key part of the PACT Act, a new law that empowers VA to deliver care and benefits to millions of toxic exposed Veterans and their survivors.

Today, VA released a study showing the medication Paxlovid can reduce the risk of symptoms of 'Long COVID,' which affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. In the interest of public health, the study, 'Nirmatrelvir and the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,' was released before peer-review on the pre-print server medRxiv.

We are continuing to closely monitor the storm and its impact on Veterans and employees in its wake. We’re also working closely with our federal partners to support ongoing emergency planning efforts.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Food and Drug Administration announced a collaboration that aims to accelerate the time it takes for medical innovations to reach Veterans and non-Veterans alike.

On Oct. 1, The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This expansion increases health care eligibility for generations of toxic-exposed Veterans, giving them access to the health care they've earned and deserve.

Thank you, Chief Bill Smith for that kind introduction, for your steadfast leadership as the Alaska representative of our VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs, and for your continued service to the nation.

Yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs submitted to the Federal Register an interim final rule that will extend Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers eligibility for certain Veterans and their family caregivers through Sept. 30, 2025.

Last night, the Department of Veterans Affairs submitted to the Federal Register an interim final rule that will allow VA to provide access to abortion counseling and - in certain cases - abortions to pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries. Specifically, VA will provide access to abortions when the life or health of the pregnant Veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. VA beneficiaries enrolled in CHAMPVA will also have access to this care.

The BRAIN Summit will bring together AI researchers, clinicians and leaders across government, industry and academia to share their knowledge and expertise on using AI to improve outcomes for Veterans and others facing traumatic brain injury, brain cancer and mental health challenges.