Semper Gumby. Phonetic: SEM-per GUM-bee. Phrase: all the time versatile. From the Latin, “semper,” which suggests all the time, and “gumby,” which means versatile (tailored from a blocky inexperienced humanoid character product of clay and popularized within the Fifties tv collection: “The Gumby Present.”)
Should you wore the uniform, you already know the phrase. Issues change quick within the navy. First Sergeants unexpectedly assign you to further responsibility; the enemy has their plan and disrupts your operation; HR (S-1) closes store for no cause on the very day it is advisable to get some vital paperwork processed.
Issues change at VA, too. Listed here are 4 modifications – enhancements – to this point underneath the brand new administration.
1. Simplified journey claims now out there on VA cellular app
Veterans can now submit and monitor “mileage-only” journey claims instantly from a smartphone or cellular machine by way of the VA Well being and Advantages cellular app (https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-and-benefits).
The app routinely identifies when a Veteran’s appointment could also be eligible for mileage reimbursement and shows a immediate on the house display screen. Submissions require just some faucets to verify particulars.
2. VA affords yearlong neighborhood care authorizations for 30 providers
VA will enhance Veterans’ entry to well being care by extending the size of latest VA neighborhood care authorizations to 1 12 months for 30 standardized kinds of care.
The change means Veterans referred by VA to neighborhood take care of eligible standardized kinds of care will obtain 12 full months of uninterrupted remedy at VA’s expense earlier than needing to acquire a VA reauthorization.
Veterans will profit from uninterrupted entry to important specialty providers, permitting them to focus extra on their well being and fewer on navigating administrative necessities. Neighborhood suppliers might be empowered to handle care with fewer administrative obstacles and better flexibility.
Earlier than the change, some VA neighborhood care specialty referrals have been reevaluated each 90 to 180 days, growing the chance of interrupted or delayed care.
3. VA to increase caregiver help program eligibility for “legacy” Veterans, caregivers
VA will quickly suggest a rule to increase the Program of Complete Help for Household Caregivers (PCAFC) eligibility for particular Veterans and their household caregivers by means of Sept. 30, 2028.
The brand new rule will lengthen program eligibility for legacy contributors, legacy candidates and their household caregivers for 3 years whereas VA continues the rulemaking course of to refine this system. The extension will make sure that legacy contributors and candidates can keep their advantages and stability throughout this time.
Legacy contributors are Veterans, service members, and their household caregivers who have been taking part in PCAFC as of Sept. 30, 2020, and legacy candidates are Veterans, service members and their household caregivers who utilized for PCAFC earlier than Oct. 1, 2020, and have been accepted into this system on or after Oct. 1, 2020.
“Legacy caregivers have helped form VA’s Caregiver Assist Program for a few years,” stated VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This resolution underscores VA’s dedication to Veterans and caregivers throughout the nation and can assist present consistency and stability to just about 15,000 legacy contributors for years to come back.”
4. VA and DoD workforce as much as make transitioning out of the navy higher.
Veterans deserve a seamless transition from the Division of Protection to VA. In Might, VA Secretary Doug Collins and DoD Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a brand new settlement to enhance the transition course of for separating service members and foster better collaboration between the 2 departments.
Anybody who raised their proper hand and agreed to serve deserves to have these two departments work in tandem, looking for his or her greatest curiosity.
Why didn’t this occur sooner? Each federal businesses serve the identical constituency of Individuals alongside a logical continuum.
For much too a few years, there’s been a disconnect, a scarcity of full cooperation. That ends this 12 months.
The settlement will embody higher continuity of well being care, alignment of workforce growth and improved transition applications.
Gumby had a greatest buddy, Pokey, a speaking orange pony. Whereas Gumby is idealistic, Pokey is skeptical and nervous, and likes to have the final phrase.
He ceaselessly exclaimed, “Holy Toledo!” when stunned. Let’s give Pokey the final phrase and hope he says the identical factor about all of the enhancements at VA up to now in 2025.
Thanks for permitting me to stroll alongside you behind pleasant strains.
Victory!
Jason T. Strickland, Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Military Retired), is the chief communications officer on the VA Rocky Mountain Community E mail: [email protected]
