News Release

                Friday, June 08, 2007

POC: Gordon H Moye Arizona PVA Hospital Representative

Office: 602-244-9168, Toll Free:1-800-621-9217

Subject:    NATIONAL NEWS STORY NOT BEING COVERED REGARDING VA MEDICAL AND BENEFITS RIGHTS – NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

Phoenix , Arizona – Nearly all of the Nations military veterans are entitled to medical benefits and many of those are also entitled to additional health and quality of life benefits. The problem is that they don't know it.

“It's not the job of the Armed Services or of the Veterans Hospitals to get a veteran qualified for benefits that he or she may very well be rightfully qualified for,” said Benjamin Garcia, President of the Arizona Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. “Service Organizations like the PVA are the ones who do the job of guiding veterans through the process of becoming eligible to receive their military benefits.”

The budget to give care to veterans covers the medical needs of registered veterans. It does not cover announcing that these benefits exist or what the benefits potentially include. In fact Congress has made it illegal for the Veterans Administration to recruit new patients.

“The PVA has offices within the VA Regional Office, where we help fill out paperwork to become eligible. Many times we find that even the Hospital Staff may not know that they can direct needy veterans so that they may be provided with our free assistance. We hope that by alerting the media that these entitlements are being widely underutilized, that we will have veterans calling Service organizations like the APVA to get registered,” said Benjamin Garcia.

Services available to veterans include medical benefits, mental health benefits, rehabilitation services and in some cases financial benefits. But if the veteran does not know that the Service Organization is the first step in the process to receiving these benefits they often become discouraged and stop moving forward toward receiving services they may directly need.

The Arizona Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America wants to help veterans in need get the services and benefits they deserve for serving our country. We have a compelling story to tell and a deserving community in need of hearing it.

Situation: Disabled veteran with has a medical condition that becomes dire when the veteran becomes over heated – a problem in the Arizona Desert – Veteran manages to get a job but the veteran's vehicle looses its air conditioning – the Arizona PVA can help this veteran get his VA Benefits to pay for the replacement air conditioning – problem is, the veteran (a) is not registered with the VA to receive benefits and (b) does not know that he/she even qualifies.

Hospital Liaison and Service Program

Our APVA Hospital Liaison Program facilitates the re-entry of spinal cord injured or neurologically impaired persons and their families into society through personal contact, technical assistance, and education. The program is concerned with addressing the needs of newly injured and hospitalized spinal cord injured/diseased, (SCI/D) civilians and veterans throughout Maricopa County. This includes homebound SCI/D individuals who are unaware of potential benefits (including monetary), they might be eligible to receive through the VA that would increase their independence.

We also work to assist in providing a facility for low or no cost healthcare treatment that would provide a broader range of pharmaceutical items and medical equipment to the homebound SCI/D.

Fee-basis Bowel and Bladder Care for Spinal Cord Injured Veterans

In certain circumstances the VA Fee-basis office will pay for a limited amount of bowel and bladder care for spinal cord injured (SCI) veterans in the home setting. Payment for bowel and bladder care is not dependent on service connection or receipt of a VA pension. Any veteran receiving medical care from a VA physician is eligible if he meets the medical requirements as determined by the physician. This is not the case for other types of Fee-basis care ; this article only addresses Fee-basis bowel and bladder care.

Fee-basis home health services are defined as supportive medical services requiring skilled treatment as performed by professional health care providers and technicians, and prescribed by and under the direction of a VA staff physician or VA contract physician. For the purpose of Fee-basis, the basic care procedures of catheter irrigation, colostomy bag changes, and external catheter changes, are defined as medical services. Due to the nature of the physical limitations and special needs of many spinal cord injured patients, bathing may also be provided as a fee-basis home health service when provided in conjunction with bowel and bladder care.

Quadriplegics receiving VA medical care are specifically eligible for bowel and bladder care by definition, and other veterans with spinal cord injuries are eligible when a VA physician determines that the veteran is unable to take care of his own bowel and bladder care, and depends on assistance from others. The regulations specifically state that in no instance will a veteran who can perform these functions unassisted be provided Fee-basis care. Receipt of a VA compensation or pension award for Aid and Attendance (A&A), or a higher level of A&A does not disqualify a veteran from receiving bowel and bladder care through the Fee-basis program.

To be covered under the Fee-basis bowel and bladder program, care must be provided by a licensed or registered health care provider, or a trained paraprofessional working under the direction and supervision of a licensed health care provider. A family member may receive reimbursement for providing bowel and bladder care once they have been trained and certified by a Spinal Cord Injury Center as being competent to provide the care.

Fee-basis payments are made directly to the provider. Reimbursement will be limited to a specific number of hours, not to exceed the hourly rate paid to nursing assistants employed by the VA. Contact the SCI Coordinator for current rate. For VA pensioners , it is important to note that payments for Fee-basis bowel and bladder care from the VA do not count as family income for pension purposes. You should monitor your pension awards closely to ensure it is not counted as income for your spouse. Fee-basis payments may be made retroactively on a case by case basis. In general, most VA retroactive payments are limited to the latter of the date all medical requirements were met, or the date one year prior to the date of application.

Fee-basis authorization will not be considered a permanent status for any veteran, regardless of the permanent status of the disability. There will be active, continuing participation by VA administrative and clinic managers and by other staff working in the fee-basis program to ensure compliance with all policies. Every Fee-basis authorization will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Applications for Fee-basis bowel and bladder care are made through the local VA SCI Coordinator, who will assist you by submitting a consult, and coordinating with your primary care physician and Fee-basis. When authorized care will be provided by a family member, they will be set up with an appointment for certification. In cases where care will not be provided by a family member, a referral for VA assistance in arranging for health care providers will be made

If you have any questions, please contact the Phoenix PVA Service Office at 602-627-3311 or

1-800-795-3582 or the SCI Coordinators at the numbers listed below.

Phoenix: Bobbie Anderson, MSW   (602)277-5551 Ext. 7657

Tucson: Shaun S. Rudh, MSW     (520)792-1450 Ext. 5910

Prescott: Allison Kitchens, LMSW   (928)776-6185   

Date:  March 27th.  6:30 - 8 pm.
What:  Men only disability discussion group.
       Free:  there is no fee, and never will be, to participate!
Who:  Men, 18 and over, with any disability.
Where:  1411 E. Orangewood Ave., Phoenix.  The Legacy at Piestewa Peak clubhouse.

When:  4th Thurs. of each month, 6:30 - 8 pm.  (unless holiday)

Contact:  Don Price (602) 980-3232  DonPrice63@yahoo.com
DonPrice63@yahoo.com
This group will be held 6:30-8 pm the 4th Thursday of each month at The Legacy at Piestewa Peak, 1411 E. Orangewood Ave [off 16th St. Between
Northern and E. Glendale Ave.]  Meetings take place in the condo complex clubhouse.  Any questions please call Don at 602-980-3232.

PLEASE NOTE  Due to the nature of this group and the topics discussed, please do not bring any children to the group.