PROVIDENCE – The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced it has enrolled 1,092 Rhode Island veterans in VA health care over the last year, marking a 38.2% increase over the previous year.
Nationally, the VA says it has enrolled 401,006 veterans over the past year, a 30% increase over the previous year. Also, this is the most yearly enrollees in at least five years and marks an almost 50% increase in enrollment since 2020.
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The VA credits the increases in enrollment to the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, or the PACT Act, which has allowed the VA to expand its health care and benefits to millions of veterans.
Also, the VA is conducting an outreach campaign, including hosting more than 2,600 events since the PACT Act was passed. The $16 million-plus advertising campaign includes public service announcements and sending text messages encouraging veterans to enroll. These efforts will continue through 2024, with more than 550 events scheduled this year.
Enrolling veterans in health care is a priority for the VA and President Joe Biden’s administration because those who receive VA health care have better health outcomes and VA hospitals have outperformed other facilities in quality and patient satisfaction ratings, according to a news release. Also, VA health care is usually more affordable than non-VA health care.
“We want every eligible veteran to enroll in VA health care for one simple reason: veterans who come to VA are proven to have better health outcomes – and pay less – than veterans who don’t,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “That’s why we’ve spent the past year meeting veterans where they are – hosting thousands of events, sending millions of texts, advertising on every corner and much more – to get them to come to VA. This aggressive outreach campaign has led more veterans to enroll in VA care than during any year in at least a decade, and we’re not slowing down now.”
The VA recently expanded its health care eligibility for millions of veterans nationwide. As of March 5, veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military and who meet certain requirements became eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This means that all veterans who served in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terror or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Also, veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the U.S. will be eligible to enroll and the VA has expanded health care to World War II veterans.
The VA says it can serve these new enrollees partly because of last year’s record hiring in the VA’s Veteran Health Administration, when it exceeded hiring goals and grew at the fastest rate in 15 years bringing in more than 61,000 new hires. This additional staff helped to prepare for an increase in VA health care enrollment among veterans under the PACT Act. Now, the Veteran Health Administration has more employees than ever and saw a 20% decrease in turnover from 2022 to 2023.
“VA is the best, most affordable care in America for veterans, so we want all eligible veterans to enroll today,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “Our clinicians know veterans – they often are veterans – and they know exactly how to help. Even if you don’t need this care today, you might need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. It’s quick and easy to apply, and once you’re in, you have access for life.”
Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.
