OEF/OIF/OND Health & Benefits Overview

1. VA OEF/OIF/OND Health & Benefits Overview

2. Department of Veterans Affairs(VA)

3. OEF/OIF/ONDProgram Programs located at all VA Medical Centers

4. VISN 11 VA Medical Centers in the “Mitten”

5. VISN 12 VA Medical Centers in the “U.P.” Iron Mountain (Oscar G Johnson VAMC)

6. Demographics: Michigan Total Veterans: 660,773 Total male Veterans: 610,652 Total female Veterans: 50,121 http://www.va.gov/vetdata/VeteranPopulation.asp Sep 2013

7. Characteristics of OEF/OIF/OND Population • Younger (18-29)– joined military for reasons of: • Patriotism – post 9-11 • National need • Family history • Education and career training • Need for comradeship and guidance • 65-70% have had multiple deployments creating major disruptions to their families and careers • Many come home to experience relationship problems, re-employment problems, financial distress and other domestic issues. • Smaller segment of older (29-50) individuals with similar but different needs – many have more resources so financial problems and/or employment issues are not as prevalent – relationship issues exist as does a powerful desire to maintain military career status

8. OEF/OIF/OND • 1,791,420 Veterans have become eligible for VA health care since 2002 -- • Of the total: 59% are former Active Duty and 41% are National Guard or Reservists • 92% of Veterans seen at VA have been outpatients and ~7% have been hospitalized at least once in a VA health care facility VA Healthcare Utilization – Cumulative from 1st quarter 2002, to 2nd QTR FY2014

9. National Data on Diagnoses among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Diseases of Musculoskeletal System 60.0% Mental Disorders 56.1% Signs/symptoms of Ill Defined 55.8% Nervous system/Sensory 48.7% Digestive system 37.1% Endocrine/Nutritional systems 36.3% Injury/Poisonings 31.3%

10. National Data on Diagnoses cont. • Top 7 on previous slide • Remainder of the most common medical problems range from Respiratory system (28.3%) to infectious/parasitic and neoplasms that are in lower or single percentages (4.6 to 1.6%) • What we see locally mirrors the national statistics -- • Muscle/joint problems – • MH problems – • Hard to define or multi symptom presentations VA Health Care Utilization among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, Cumulative from 1st Qtr. FY 2002 to 2nd Qtr., FY2014.

11. Health Issues • “Nothing is pure” with this group – very seldom see one stand alone medical problem - • Comorbid conditions are the norm -- • Musculoskeletal Problems + psychosocial or mental health problems of anxiety, depression and PTSD are very common –(approximately 85% of service members present with this combination) • Musculoskeletal problems of back, hips, neck, shoulders are believed to be caused by the weight of battle gear + other equipment > Mental health symptoms are thought to impact service members for a variety of reasons: multiple deployments, no or little down time (constant vigilance), no front line (who is the enemy), different tactics (IED’s & secondary devices) –Service Members must develop keen skills to survive and many of these adaptations do not subside when returning home

12. Basic Healthcare Eligibility • 24 continuous months (unless discharged for hardship, injury) • Discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

13. Enrollment Requirements What We Need From You • DD-214 copy • VA Form 10-10EZ

14. Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, & New Dawn VA provides enhanced enrollment opportunity and five years of cost-free health care to veterans who served in a theater of combat operations, for any injury or illness associated with this service

15. Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, & New Dawn The five year window of care starts over with each additional deployment to a theater of combat operations

16. Non-Service RelatedIssues • Veterans who experience Non-Service related illness/injuries Post Deployment may be charged a co-pay at VA for treatment of these conditions i.e. flu, colds, auto accident

17. Women Veteran Programs • Women Veterans may receive • full continuum of medical benefits package • women’s family planning and birth control, gender-specific health care, e.g. hormone replacement therapy, breast and GYN care, maternity, limited infertility • Special considerations • Each VAMC has a Women Veterans Program Manager

18. Medical Benefits • Combat Deployment Screening • Primary Care Services • Prescription Services • Mental Health • Optometry • Audiology • Speech Pathology • Neurology • Dermatology & Wound Care • Physical Medicine & Rehab (KT, PT, OT, Spinal Cord Injury)

19. Airborne Hazards • “Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry” • Veterans of Southwest Asia theater of operations after Aug 2, 1990 (ODS) • OEF/OIF/OND or in Djibouti, Africa after Sep 11, 2001 • Register: https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/ • To learn more http://www.publichealth.va.gov OR call 1-877-222-8387

20. Serving Combat Veterans Contact Information 616-285-5795 FAX 616-285-5898 www.vetcenter.va.gov

21. VET CENTER SERVICES Vet Center Staff include Combat Veterans (Veterans serving Veterans) Individual Counseling Group Counseling Military Sexual Trauma Counseling Marital/Family Counseling Bereavement Counseling Drug and Alcohol Referral Liaison with VA & Community Resources Benefits Assistance Referral Community Education and Career Referral

22. VBA Benefits & Services • Compensation • Education • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment • Life Insurance • Home Loan Guaranty

23. National Cemeteries • Burial for Veteran and Spouse • Headstone, Flag, and perpetual care • Nationwide Gravesite Locator • 800-535-1117 or www.cem.va.gov

24. Local VA Contacts VA Medical Center (VHA): 1-800-214-1247 Battle Creek VAMC Toll Free 269-966-5600 x35308 OEF/OIF/OND Program 269-966-5600 x36451 TPA (Mick) Vet Center: 616-285-5795 Grand Rapids Vet Center VA Regional Office (VBA): 1-800-827-1000 Detroit Regional Office www.va.gov

25. Questions ? Thank You