At least...
They're trying...
The VA is once again trying to expand telehealth.
Veterans Affairs leaders plan to eliminate all co-pays for telehealth services and award grants for telehealth clinics in rural areas, part of ongoing efforts to expand virtual care options within the medical care system.
In an announcement Monday, department officials said the moves could help “lower costs and expand access to care for all those who served.” Both proposals will have to go through a months-long rulemaking process before either could be put into effect.
Full article, HERE from Navy Times.
This was talked about in 2021, but nothing went forward. If you're a disabled Vet, this can be a real boon, saving lots of transit time, especially for those who can't get around well.
Frankly, this is long overdue, and I have used it a couple of times. No, it's not perfect, but it beats sitting home suffering without help.
Sadly, as usual, there is no timeline attached to it, but if it's offered and your only option, PLEASE make use of it!
The Destroyer Tender in Marseille, France couldn't certify any VA disabilities and I was one month away from retiring after Desert Storm as soon as the ship hit CONUS. Burnt out from sleep deprivation at age 43, didn't want to extend my active duty to get "VA certified" stateside. No regrets. Even gave them back the 34 days leave. I wanted out that bad and did not want to be called back from Pensacola (on a rare free weekend) to Mayport to write a 5 line SORTS message again. I like the concept of tele-medicine. Locally, we were forced into it during the COVID kerfuffle. I like the concept, but only if it is voluntary. I wouldn't voluntarily want to have such a doctor's appointment for hemorrhoids or a possible skin cancer inside my ear, though. And, I do not like co-pays and avoid them where possible. Weren't we promised "free healthcare for life" if we did our 20? I did 26.
So I’m not the only one seeing their comments chopped off halfway through. I know I typed the rest into the box before sending (on another post), but it seems that some temporary save point was used instead of the state at which I pressed “send”.