Posted on Nov 11, 2021
2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough
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Over the past few weeks, the VA worked to answer more than 400 questions below on: Inflation, Burn Pits, Mental Health Services, Disability Claims, Medical Marijuana, Caregivers and Survivors, Community Care, Billing, Post-9/11 GI Bill, LGBTQ+, Electronic Healthcare Record, COVID-19, Dental, and Homeless Veterans.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Mental Health
Disability
GI Bill
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 404
Can the VA expedite payments of rental assistance funds for veterans at risk of homelessness? This could be on a temporary basis until the funds are reimbursed by the HUD/Treasury rental assistance programs?
CPL Richard Murray
For mortgage assistance as well! I have been struggling to make payments since this pandemic started, but despite financing various programs, there is no help for the many of us who wish to keep our homes! In many cases, such as my own, our mortgage is cheaper than rent due to the time period in which we obtained the mortgage. I am told there is help once I become homeless, but nothing to keep me from becoming such, and no help at all for my completely disabled wife!
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
With the end to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) eviction moratorium, VA recognizes the critical role that we can play in preventing eviction and homelessness. This year, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs Office (HPO) will use $200 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to expand the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Shallow Subsidy service. The shallow subsidy is an effective tool in preventing homelessness because it provides a modest amount of rental assistance for two years. Shallow subsidy interventions can also provide long-term housing stability for Veterans who can increase income through employment. We are diligently working to quickly disburse these funds out to our SSVF grantees so that they can continue to expediently serve Veterans who are homeless or at risk.
Mr. Secretary,
Will it be possible for you to relay this concern to our leaders in Congress. Our family members should be given the same privilege we service members/veterans to become a US citizen without going through red tapes and spending a lot of money to become one. I believe they deserve this privilege and it's long overdue.
Also, when will the VA allow the doctors to give those who use medical marijuana the card so they can purchase these "needed help" from a dispensary like the ones here in Florida. I used CBD when I was in Washington but now that I live in Florida I was told by my CBOC Doctor that I have to get the MM card from any physicians outside the VA if I want to buy CBD.
Thank you Sir.
Will it be possible for you to relay this concern to our leaders in Congress. Our family members should be given the same privilege we service members/veterans to become a US citizen without going through red tapes and spending a lot of money to become one. I believe they deserve this privilege and it's long overdue.
Also, when will the VA allow the doctors to give those who use medical marijuana the card so they can purchase these "needed help" from a dispensary like the ones here in Florida. I used CBD when I was in Washington but now that I live in Florida I was told by my CBOC Doctor that I have to get the MM card from any physicians outside the VA if I want to buy CBD.
Thank you Sir.
Mr. Secretary, I join the other Veterans who want to thank you for accepting this position with the DVA. I intentionally live in a remote area and am fortunate to have a VA Clinic near me. Can you please expand the services at VA Clinics? I had to drive to the nearest VA hospital just to get the COVID vaccine because the clinics were not supported for this.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. VA is continually evaluating the availability of services and access to care at all of our locations.
Mr. Secretary,
I would like to know who is accountable for the contractors -Veterans Experience Services (VES) and Quality, Timeliness, Customer Service (QTC) and Logistics Health, INC (LHI) service to our active duty and Veteran soldiers? The knowledge of these examiners are horrible and the complaints these 3rd party examining companies receive, on the RCC call centers 800 line, are astronomical.
I would like to know who is accountable for the contractors -Veterans Experience Services (VES) and Quality, Timeliness, Customer Service (QTC) and Logistics Health, INC (LHI) service to our active duty and Veteran soldiers? The knowledge of these examiners are horrible and the complaints these 3rd party examining companies receive, on the RCC call centers 800 line, are astronomical.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VBA has many tools for ensuring contract vendor examination quality. All contract examiners must hold an active state license to practice, with no pending disciplinary proceedings involving professional conduct. The Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) contracts with a third-party vendor to audit and ensure that all providers have current and appropriate licenses to practice.
Hi Mr. Secretary, could you please add dental to our benefits. It would mean so much.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA would like all Veterans to have access to good oral health care; however, VA is limited to providing dental benefits to those Veterans who meet specific eligibility criteria as defined by statute. In order to provide dental care to a larger group of Veterans, statutes defining eligibility would need to change. VA does not have the authority to write policy that is not in accordance with statute. VA continues to explore options presented by members of the house, senate, Veteran Service Organizations, and stakeholders in the community, to expand eligibility and access to dental care for Veterans. Â Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and who are not eligible for VA Dental Care can enroll in the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program to purchase discounted dental insurance.
Mr. Secretary, respectfully, why are so many really Excellent doctor's leaving the V.A. in the facility where I receive my medical care?
I have been seeing so many of these doctors for several years and have never received the level of care in private practices that I have had the Privilege of at the V.A. in North Las Vegas!
I have a number of life threatening issues and each and Every Single one of them have been so helpful and thorough in their care for me that I am truly humbled by it and needless to say So Very Grateful!
I know this is a quite long way around getting my question out but please bear with me.
I simply get emotional when discussing this topic. Needless to say I also get more than a bit angry about it as well.
I see no need for the dedicated physicians to have to leave the V. A. to go into either private practice or to some other area of medicine because of treatment by our government that is unfair , for whatever reason.
Please help do Something, Anything really to help retain these fine dedicated physicians to stay with the V.A.
I am certain that this facility is not the only one in the country to be experiencing this problem. I am also aware that many of the problems arose during the past " administration" as it is abundantly clear. They all seemed quite content during the previous eight years. Yes, I have been going there that long for my health care and I Thank God and Country for this country keeping it's promise to me of making this care available to me. Without it I would have died years ago for lack of ability to possibly pay for all the things that the V.A. has provided to me.
Please Mr Secretary look into solving this problem of loss of these fine doctors and recruiting more of the same!
Thank You, William Sesulka
I have been seeing so many of these doctors for several years and have never received the level of care in private practices that I have had the Privilege of at the V.A. in North Las Vegas!
I have a number of life threatening issues and each and Every Single one of them have been so helpful and thorough in their care for me that I am truly humbled by it and needless to say So Very Grateful!
I know this is a quite long way around getting my question out but please bear with me.
I simply get emotional when discussing this topic. Needless to say I also get more than a bit angry about it as well.
I see no need for the dedicated physicians to have to leave the V. A. to go into either private practice or to some other area of medicine because of treatment by our government that is unfair , for whatever reason.
Please help do Something, Anything really to help retain these fine dedicated physicians to stay with the V.A.
I am certain that this facility is not the only one in the country to be experiencing this problem. I am also aware that many of the problems arose during the past " administration" as it is abundantly clear. They all seemed quite content during the previous eight years. Yes, I have been going there that long for my health care and I Thank God and Country for this country keeping it's promise to me of making this care available to me. Without it I would have died years ago for lack of ability to possibly pay for all the things that the V.A. has provided to me.
Please Mr Secretary look into solving this problem of loss of these fine doctors and recruiting more of the same!
Thank You, William Sesulka
SPC Lyle Montgomery
The only way to help this problem is to vote out the liberal democrats this midterm and stop this want to be dictator Biden and his rediculous vacine demands. He is causing problems with his illegal vacine demands.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you Mr. Sesulka for the question and for your service to our country. We're so grateful to know how much you appreciate the care you receive at the Las Vegas VAMC.  While some of your providers may have decided to retire or leave VA in the last couple of years, we are happy to share with you that the physician turnover rate for your medical center has decreased from 10.5% in FY 2019 to 7.3% in FY 2020 and 7.6% in FY 2021. VHA has also increased the number of physicians at your medical center by 11.2% over the last 3 years, most of which occurred in FY 2020, and currently employs 248 full- and part-time physicians there. Overall, VHA employs more than 27,000 physicians across the country and typically grows this critical segment of the clinical provider workforce by 1.5% to 2.5% annually. In addition, the turnover rate for our physician workforce is extremely low with a 3-year average turnover rate of 8.0% across VHA, and even lower turnover during the pandemic in both FY 2020 (7.9%) and FY 2021 (7.5%).  VHA provides physicians and other health care providers a career with total rewards that go far beyond the paycheck.
Why would the VA discontinue a medication that I have been on for years with great success and switch to one that has caused side effects which in turn caused me to have to take an additional medication to address those side effects?
SPC Lyle Montgomery
I had the same problem. Contact your Congressman and Senators. The VA hates When you do that and sometimes it works. It did for me.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Without knowing the specifics about your medical conditions and the drugs you were prescribed, it isn't possible to answer your question. I encourage you to discuss the side-effects you are experiencing with your VA clinical team so a determination can be made if it is the best drug for you
I'm 80% disabled, but can not work full time because of my disabilities. Is there anything in the works to provide dependent medical insurance and benefits for people at least over 50% who can not hold a full time job and therefore provide certain benefits for their dependents?
PO1 Johnny Brown
This is called the VA Individual Unemployability and is almost as hard to get as Dental benefits.
Why does the quality of the prescriptions vary so much, and why is it so hard to get surgeries done in a timely fashion when needed. And why do we have so many foreign doctors why don't we have more American doctors that people can understand and relate to
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. For information on prescriptions please visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/refill-track-prescriptions/. If you need urgent help with an appointment or surgery and not able to reach your local VA, please call our White House VA hotline at [login to see] (24/7 assistance from agents)
Refill and track VA prescriptions | Veterans Affairs
Refill your VA prescriptions,track their delivery, and create lists to organize your medicines online.
Secretary McDonough,
Are things moving forward with authorizations and contracts with Naturopathic doctors to serve Veterans in VA hospitals?
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a year and a half ago. It has some weird symptoms, joint pain, bowel issues, and many others. Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder (maybe not the right term?). Anyway, a light went on in my head that some of the symptoms I have had remind me of what I heard that my father suffered from. My father was a Viet Nam veteran. When he died he had neuromuscular issues (?) bad hips, digestive issues, could no longer walk. His death was a long and awful one. I just wonder how much better his life would have been if someone had looked at him as a whole person instead of as pieces and parts.
I have access to the internet with all kinds of information from Naturopathic doctors, Functional Medical Professionals and other Celiac suffers. When something bad happens like ingesting gluten, I can find out what to do. If I have awful joint pain, I can find out what I may have eaten that could have caused it rather than throwing pain relievers at it.
I have an issue with Yeast Overgrowth that is not an uncommon problem. I have done research and found out how to further change my diet to someday fix the problem. There is a system of tests that is common for Naturopaths to order that analyzes the bacteria in the gut to tell what kind of yeast is present and overgrowing as well as parasites and any other thing that may be causing problems.
When you have yeast issues at the VA, you get prescribed Vaginal yeast cream, or jock itch cream with the thought that the yeast problem happens right where the symptoms come from, rather than the digestive system.
If the VA in Portland had a Naturopath who could order a GI-Map test for me, we could see why my yeast overgrowth has not resolved and whether I have parasites from food poisoning that I suffered a few years ago, that might be causing continued Yeast problems.
I am going to pay for my own care to see a Naturopath to resolve my issues so that I can start feeling better.
I am impressed with the care I have received lately, and feel like support for them using a more wholistic and integrated approach could make care better and could make working at the VA a better more fulfilling place to work when you see people start feeling better.
Thank you for trying to make things better.
Are things moving forward with authorizations and contracts with Naturopathic doctors to serve Veterans in VA hospitals?
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a year and a half ago. It has some weird symptoms, joint pain, bowel issues, and many others. Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder (maybe not the right term?). Anyway, a light went on in my head that some of the symptoms I have had remind me of what I heard that my father suffered from. My father was a Viet Nam veteran. When he died he had neuromuscular issues (?) bad hips, digestive issues, could no longer walk. His death was a long and awful one. I just wonder how much better his life would have been if someone had looked at him as a whole person instead of as pieces and parts.
I have access to the internet with all kinds of information from Naturopathic doctors, Functional Medical Professionals and other Celiac suffers. When something bad happens like ingesting gluten, I can find out what to do. If I have awful joint pain, I can find out what I may have eaten that could have caused it rather than throwing pain relievers at it.
I have an issue with Yeast Overgrowth that is not an uncommon problem. I have done research and found out how to further change my diet to someday fix the problem. There is a system of tests that is common for Naturopaths to order that analyzes the bacteria in the gut to tell what kind of yeast is present and overgrowing as well as parasites and any other thing that may be causing problems.
When you have yeast issues at the VA, you get prescribed Vaginal yeast cream, or jock itch cream with the thought that the yeast problem happens right where the symptoms come from, rather than the digestive system.
If the VA in Portland had a Naturopath who could order a GI-Map test for me, we could see why my yeast overgrowth has not resolved and whether I have parasites from food poisoning that I suffered a few years ago, that might be causing continued Yeast problems.
I am going to pay for my own care to see a Naturopath to resolve my issues so that I can start feeling better.
I am impressed with the care I have received lately, and feel like support for them using a more wholistic and integrated approach could make care better and could make working at the VA a better more fulfilling place to work when you see people start feeling better.
Thank you for trying to make things better.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. VA is committed to providing excellent, holistic health care for Veterans. Please contact your VA primary care team to discuss your care plan. We'd be happy to address your specific concerns if identifying information is provided.
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