As president of the American Medical Association, Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld is the face and voice of the nation’s largest association of doctors and medical students. He’s also a Navy Veteran who relies on Milwaukee VA for his health care. He just turned 45 and, on March 29, he did what we should all do at that age: Get a colonoscopy. Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld in Afghanistan “I don’t know if looking forward to it is the right phrase, but I know it’s the right thing for me to do. I trust in my doctors at VA to get me the care I need and I encourage other Veterans to do the same. I have a lot of faith in my ..read more

Jesse Brown VA’s Women’s Health program orchestrated a celebration like no other through “Fabulous in Fatigues.” Amidst laughter and shared stories, the event wasn’t just about honoring women Veterans’ service. It was a testament of camaraderie, resilience and unwavering strength. The goal was to ensure women Veterans felt seen, respected and celebrated. VA teams also educated the group of women on VA services available to them, noting the high number of women Veterans in the area not connected to VA care. Twenty-four of the 28 Veterans who attended took their first steps through the Chicago V ..read more

At VA, Whole Health means supporting your health and well-being by focusing on what matters to you rather than what’s the matter with you. VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) knows that “what matters” will be different for each of the 1,000,000+ Veterans who have joined MVP, which is why the program encourages Veterans from all backgrounds to become part of VA’s largest effort to improve health care for all. For many people, creating a Whole Health plan may focus on being healthy, strong and active throughout their lifetime. And across the board—regardless of health care background or condition ..read more

If you are an eligible American Indian/Alaska Native Veteran, effective Jan. 5, 2022, you no longer have to make copayments for health care and urgent care received through VA. You can also get reimbursed for copayments paid on or after Jan. 5, 2022. So far, more than 4,000 Native Veterans have been approved for this exemption. Over 168,000 copayments totaling more than $3 million have been exempted and/or reimbursed. We encourage you to apply and welcome the opportunity walk you through the process or answer any questions. You can call us at 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411). How to apply You ca ..read more

Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. Bridge My Return (BMR), the tech-enabled hiring platform exclusive to the military community, has launched BMR 2.0, a software re-build which incorporates an AI-driven, skills-matching algorithm and military skills translator, and an enhanced user experience shaped by service member and employer feedback. The announcement comes at time when current labor market challenges a ..read more

If you’ve had a VA health care appointment in the last year or so, your care team probably completed a toxic exposure screening. Even as the screening has become a routine part of VA health care, there are still some common misconceptions. Let’s break down exactly what the screening is and what it isn’t. The basics Developed as part of the 2022 PACT Act, the toxic exposure screening launched at VA medical centers and clinics nationwide in November 2022. Since then, millions of enrolled Veterans have received their screening and discussed potential exposure concerns with their health care provi ..read more

Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. There are approximately 1.6 million United States military children worldwide who are the sons and daughters of Veteran and active-duty service members. The important “duty first” mindset is a critical component of a military family. However, setting aside time as a family to share and discuss the social-emotional needs of their children is an important step in developing acceptance, empathy an ..read more

The idea of having a conversation about suicide can fill people with dread. It’s not just because talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable. It’s also because many people feel like only mental health professionals can speak about such a complex and sensitive subject. Many people don’t feel like they’re “qualified” to help someone having thoughts of suicide. But nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to be a licensed therapist, clinician or academic to talk about suicide. The conversation doesn’t have to be filled with statistics or complicated terms. Anyone can talk about i ..read more

With recent updates to our Equity Action Plan, VA is continuing to improve outcomes and eliminate disparities in Veteran benefits and health care. That includes increasing access to VA services for historically underserved Veteran communities. “It’s our job to provide every Veteran with the world-class care and benefits they deserve, no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love, where they are from, or how they identify,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. Serving the most diverse group of Veterans in history means reaffirming our commitment to hiring staff that re ..read more

The idea of having a conversation about suicide can fill people with dread. It’s not just because talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable. It’s also because many people feel like only mental health professionals can speak about such a complex and sensitive subject. Many people don’t feel like they’re “qualified” to help someone having thoughts of suicide. But nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to be a licensed therapist, clinician or academic to talk about suicide. The conversation doesn’t have to be filled with statistics or complicated terms. Anyone can talk about i ..read more