Veterans Affairs (VA) Health System Paper Example

What is Veterans Affairs (VA) health system?

The Veterans Affairs is known to be the second largest department of the cabinet which is responsible for operating the statewide programs concerned with the financial assistance, medical care, and the burial benefits. The benefits are provided to the veterans and the families from which they come from. The duty of caring for these veterans, survivors and the spouses takes a couple of years. For example, the veterans' affairs pensions or the compensations is still given to the widows and children of the veterans of Spanish-American war. The affair started when the pilgrims were into conflicts with Pequot Indians, and a law was passed by the Pilgrims stating that the colony should compensate the soldiers who had become disabled during the wars. The federal state in the United States authorized in 1811 the establishment of the health facility and domiciliary for the veterans (Zeiss & Karlin, 2008). Therefore, after World War II, there was a necessity to modernize the veterans' affairs due to the increase in the new benefits for the war veterans.

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Who is eligible to access the Veterans Affairs Services?

The services which are offered by the veterans' affairs are accessed by any individual who had served in the military on active duty. Also, the services are eligible to those who were in the National Guard, and they had been called for active duty. The system has divided the single groups into various groups were the highest priority category are eligible to the services at a low cost. Priority is given to the eligible groups on the bases of income, services connected to the disability and the disability (Zeiss & Karlin, 2008). The broadest coverage of the veterans' benefits is given to those with the severe duty-connected disability. The system also considers veterans with the limitations that are associated with the minimum income hence being given a mid-level priority.

Differences between the VA health administration and the military health system (DOD)

The DOD take the responsibility of providing care to the members who are currently offering services to the United States government up to the point where it they exit from the active duty. On the other hand, the Veterans affairs system provides the medical care to the eligible members of the military who have retired. Due to these separate responsibilities, the two bodies tend to work in unity to allow a smooth and clear transition between the members who are actively participating in the military and those who retired. The deputy secretary of the VA chairs the committee for ensuring coordination of duties between the two bodies during the odd fiscal years and the DOD under-secretary during the even fiscal years (Zeiss & Karlin, 2008). Therefore, both systems help in dissemination of appropriate services which are effective and efficient to the retirees and the active duty individuals.

Features of the TRICARE program, those eligible and the services covered by the plan

Elements of the program

The options for the enrollment to the program are flexible, and it is one can complete it through the beneficiary web. The program promotes the enhancement of the preventive, clinical and vision services coverage. Also, in this program, there are maximum options for offering care to the veterans and the retirees. The application to the program is provided to all individuals without taking referrals from the primary care managers. Besides, movement of the members from one region of TRICARE to the next is smooth due to the offering of the enrollment options. The care managers are assigned when a person decides to enroll in the program assigning of the managers is conducted despite the completion of the enrollment to the TRICARE (Holahan, 2010). Due to emergence of various cases, a specialist is employed to offer the appropriate assistance. Therefore, in the program, the case manager ensures the member's claims are filed appropriately.

The eligible members of TRICARE and services covered by the program

Individuals who are active on duty and their families, retired service members and their families, survivors, the retired National Guard, and reserves are eligible for the acquisition of services from this program. Also, the eligible spouses, recipients who possess the Medal of Honor together with their families are likely to attain the services from the program. Individuals who are perceived as the beneficiaries of this program are required to relocate in the prime service zones where it will be easy to disseminate the health services. These zones are established in areas which are concentrated with the high number of uniformed personnel and the retirees. The program tends to provide the rehabilitative and health services to the eligible members (Holahan, 2010). Also, special education is given to the children of the families that are beneficiaries of the program. Due to disability cases of members of the program, appropriate equipment is provided to enable them to adapt to their current condition and also transportation is offered when a need arises.

The aim of the Veterans Affairs Choice program (VCP)

The purpose was to improve the ability of the veterans affair be able to deliver appropriate and quality medical services to the veterans. The VCP targeted the expansion of the health services and the medical care to the eligible members through the appropriate society providers (Zeiss & Karlin, 2008). Therefore, this program could promote consolidation and coordination of these services thus ensuring every member has access to the appropriate medical care.

References

Holahan, J. (2010). The 2007-09 recession and health insurance coverage. Health Affairs, 30(1), 145-152.

Zeiss, A. M., & Karlin, B. E. (2008). Integrating mental health and primary care services in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings, 15(1), 73-78.