
The VA announced in early September that it has chosen 5 organizations
in 8 states to participate in a pilot program, Rural Veterans Coordination
Pilot (RVCP), designed to help
Disabled American Veterans who live in rural or underserved
areas receive the best possible medical care.
These
organizations include:
- The
Maine Department of Labor
- The
New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services
- The
Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors
- Volunteers
of America North Louisiana (also covers Arkansas and Texas)
- Westcare
Washington, Inc. (covers Washington state and Oregon)
The RVCP is a 2-year program that will focus on assisting disabled
rural service members in their transition to civilian life. Grants of up to $2
million will be awarded to the participating organizations. The money is to be
used to provide assistance to veterans in one or more of the following areas:
1.
Easier access to benefits. This would include
better coordination between the VA and non-VA providers to help veterans and
their families get the care and benefits they are entitled to.
2.
Greater availability of medical and mental
health care. The recently authorized Veteran’s Choice Cards (see our article from
8/11/2014 for more information) would be used to help veterans and their families more
easily receive care from non-VA providers.
3.
Improved transition assistance. This would make
it easier for veterans and their families who don’t live near a VA facility to
get help as they make the transition from active duty to civilian life.
4.
Increased outreach. The VA would use a variety
of methods to make sure that veterans in rural areas had the most accurate and
up-to-date information to help them receive the care and benefits they deserve.
“We
want to do everything that we can do to support our Veterans and their
families,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “We are looking forward to
working with these organizations. This two-year pilot will not only be
beneficial to those Veterans we currently serve, but to future Veterans as we
learn best practices to replicate it in other rural communities throughout the
country.”
If
you live in one of the areas covered by the participating organizations,
contact your closest VA office to ask about options that may be available to
you through this program.