The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it delivered more care and benefits to more Veterans than ever before in the fiscal year 2023. In fiscal year 2023, VA’s Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefit Administration both grew at the fastest rates in 15 years. VHA now has more than 400,000 employees for the first time in history, and VBA now has more than 32,000 employees for the first time in history. The benefits include:
* Delivered more than 116 million health care appointments to Veterans, surpassing the previous record by more than 3 million appointments.
* Processed 1,981,854 Veteran and survivor claims, surpassing the previous all-time record by 15.9%.
* Screened an all-time record 4,599,009 Veterans for toxic exposure, a critical step to catching and treating potentially life-threatening health conditions as early as possible
* The Board of VETERAN’S Appeals processed 103,245 Veterans appeals, an all-time record and 8.3% increase over 2022.
* Accomplished the largest outreach campaign in VA history. Veterans submitted 2,433,729 claims applications – an all-time record and 39.5 more than in 2022. Veterans submitted 2,299,815 intents-to-file-an all-time record and 62% more than in 2022.
* Provided services, resources, and assistance to a record 74,270 Veterans family caregivers- supporting them while they take care of the Veterans they love.
* The Veterans Crisis Line received 1,002,971 million calls, texts and chat-surpassing the acute suicide crises previous all-time record by 15.1%. VA also provided no-cost emergency health care to 33,542 Veterans through a new program launched in January.
* Plus many, other benefits.
There are currently 152 VA Medical Centers and Approximately 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics in the United States. It is not only the nation’s largest health care system, but most likely the largest in the world. The Veteran Health Administration is the largest division in the department and second largest in the entire federal government. All VA hospitals, clinic and medical centers are owned by and operated by the Department of Veteran Affairs (as opposed to private companies). All of the staff employed in VA hospitals are federal employees. They serve more than nine million veterans each year.
To ensure that the VA can continue in this mode I am asking all Veterans and civilians to write a letter to their Senators and Congress thanking them for supporting the VA, and asking that they continue to do so. If the VA runs out of funds, they will have to close benefits.
Help is available to you by calling the local VA hospital in Northport, 631.261.4400 or Veterans Crisis Line 1.800.273.8255, press 1 to talk to a veteran or have a confidential chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net or text to 838255.
If you have any question relating to veteran problems please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer it. Contact us at Drfred72@Gmail.com.
Rev. Frederick Miller, Ph.D.