VA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2017

VA Secretary Formalizes Expansion of Emergency Mental Health Care to Former

Service Members With Other-Than-Honorable Discharges

Secretary Announced Plans to Expand Coverage in March

WASHINGTON — Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today released finalized plans that lay the framework for providing emergency mental health coverage to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges. 

This is the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on this group of former service members who are in mental health distress.  

“Suicide prevention is my top clinical priority,” said Secretary Shulkin, also a physician. “We want these former service members to know there is someplace they can turn if they are facing a mental health emergency — whether it means urgent care at a VA emergency department, a Vet Center or through the Veterans Crisis Line.”

Effective July 5, all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers will be prepared to offer emergency stabilization care for former service members who present at the facility with an emergent mental health need. Under this initiative, former service members with an OTH administrative discharge may receive care for their mental health emergency for an initial period of up to 90 days, which can include inpatient, residential or outpatient care.

During this time, VHA and the Veterans Benefits Administration will work together to determine if the mental health condition is a result of a service-related injury, making the service member eligible for ongoing coverage for that condition.  

Since Secretary Shulkin announced his intent in March to expand VA mental health coverage to service members with OTH administrative discharges, VA has worked with key internal and external stakeholders, including members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations and community partners on the issue.

Veterans in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1), or text 838255.

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District 17 Organization Chart

Veterans Can Register for Online Military Exchange Shopping

Veterans Can Register for Online Military Exchange Shopping  Some veterans who register at VetVerify.org will be invited to be beta testers. They will have the ability to shop online earlier than the planned November 11, 2017launch date. Officials said the sooner veterans register on the site, the better their chances of being chosen as a beta tester. Honorably discharged veterans interested in shopping online at military exchanges can begin their verification process immediately. Exchange officials said, some patrons may be able to shop online before the program's full launch. The exchange websites offer tax-free shopping, and discounted pricing. Actual online pricing can be seen only by those who are authorized to shop at the following websites:       shopmyexchangeshopcgx, mymcx and mynavyexchange VetVerify.org uses information from the Defense Department's Defense Manpower Data Center to verify a veterans' status. Veterans will receive notification of their acceptance as online shoppers. If their records are incomplete, they will receive guidance on how to update their records. Doing this in advance of the deadline will allow veterans to start shopping on November 1, or earlier if they are chosen as "beta testers" of the system.  This new benefit, which would increase the online shopping base by an estimated 13 million veterans, only applies to online military exchange shopping. This will not affect shopping at the physical military installations. Until now, online exchange shopping was only available to active-duty, reserve and Guard members, retirees, 100 percent disabled veterans and their dependent family members, as well as certain others.  Cindy Whitman Lacy, Marine Corps Exchange Director of Business and Support Services at Headquarters Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs said in a statement announcing the verifying website, "It's an honor to now provide this service and benefit to our well-deserving veterans. Once a Marine, always a Marine."

Michigan Regional Coordinator Program

Michigan Connects Veterans with Benefits

Editor's note: This is the first of a weekly series of Department Spotlight stories featuring unique programs and initiatives of departments throughout The American Legion. Click the link below to view the article.

Michigan connects veterans with benefits link.

American Flag Folding Ceremony Symbolism

Please click on the following link. Flag folds link

American Legion Preamble

American Legion Preamble link - Click to view