Veteran News

May 2024, Vol. 18, Issue 05

MHS GENESIS Enters New Phase After Final Go-Live

Health.mil – The Department of Defense’s federal electronic health records system, MHS (Military Health System) GENESIS, completed its final site deployment, marking the end of the DOD’s seven-year deployment. The joint electronic health records system demonstrates the power of technology to improve health care delivery, and the launch will help the DOD and the VA deliver on the promise made to those who serve our country to provide seamless care from their first day of active service to the transition to veteran status.

The VA Federal Electronic Heath Record (EHR) will enhance care for all beneficiaries who walk through our doors, whether they are veterans, U.S Navy recruits, students, active-duty service members, their dependents, or retirees, and the deployment of MHS GENESIS enables a continuum of care that will enhance operations to optimize health outcomes for those the VA serves.

With approximately 194,000 active users, MHS GENESIS is now live at 100% of DOD garrison facilities, deployed to 138 parent military hospitals and clinics, and used at more than 3,600 DOD locations worldwide.

[learn more]

MAY

What You Need To Know

In all areas, VA staff are continuing home inspections. All VA Medical Centers are focusing on smoking patients and fire safety issues and are visiting patients to ensure that each patient’s fire safety valve is in-place, installed properly, and are compliant with fire safety guidelines.

TEXAS: Flooding is occurring across the state. Please make sure that you have your tanks stored together and in their racks. Should you have to evacuate due to flooding, this will allow you to take as many tanks as possible as quickly as possible.

CALIFORNIA: Fire season is on its way. Be sure that you have an evacuation plan for your home and your oxygen, making sure you have designated multiple exit paths from your home and neighborhood.

ARIZONA: The VA transition phase as officially finished and final notice letters have been sent to those patients who have not transitioned within the allotted period. Refused or unresponsive patients may find themselves discontinued from the VAMC Home Oxygen Program. If you have not been transitioned from your former vendor to Mid-Cities Medical, please contact us immediately at 1 (833) 986-4267 to schedule an appointment. Once the VA discontinues your service, you may have to go back through the entire qualification process again.

Changes to visitation schedule – Just a friendly reminder that the VA has changed their scheduling from quarterly to semi-annually, and 6-month inspections will begin in June 2024.

If you would like to download a print-version of this or previous month’s newsletter, including additional content, monthly calendar, word search, recipes, etc…

Important Emergency Preparation Steps

• Review all available safety components.
• Create and have an evacuation plan for your residence.
• Take as much oxygen and ventilation equipment with you, should you need to evacuate.
• Contact Mid-Cities Medical for emergency assistance and setup. You will need to provide us with your evacuation address and contact details.
  • Texas – 1 (888) 450-6676
  • CA & AZ – 1 (833) 986-4267

If you have any oxygen or ventilation preparation questions during these ongoing events, or need emergency assistance, please contact our offices:

VISN 17 – Texas, 1 (888) 450-6676
VISN 22 – Arizona, 1 (833) 986-4267
VISN 22 – Southern California, 1 (833) 986-4267
CalOx Inc. – 1 (866) 519-2414

“Freedom isn’t free. We will remember all those that have given their lives for our country. Thank you for your service.”

VA Expands Health Care Coverage to Veteran Family Members and Caregivers Through CHAMPVA

VA News – Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a health care program for certain spouses, surviving spouses, children, and primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans. Through CHAMPVA, VA shares the cost of medically necessary health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries, including mental health services, inpatient and outpatient services, prescription medications, transplants, ambulatory surgery, family planning and maternity care, and more.

VA will soon expand coverage for medical services, including mental health care and contraceptive services, for family members and primary family caregivers participating in CHAMPVA and starting at the end of May, these beneficiaries will have new coverage for audio-only telehealth.

Here’s what this means for CHAMPVA beneficiaries:

• Access to audio-only telehealth. With audio-only telehealth coverage, beneficiaries will have expanded access to care, which is particularly important for rural beneficiaries, and retroactive for providers and beneficiaries who received audio-only telehealth services on or after May 12, 2020.
• Elimination of caps on visits for mental health and substance use visits. Beneficiaries will no longer be limited in the number of visits for mental health and substance abuse services, and no longer need pre-authorizations for outpatient mental health visits more than 23 visits per calendar year and/or for more than two sessions per week.
• Eliminating deductibles and cost sharing for certain necessary contraceptive services. VA is also eliminating deductibles and cost sharing for contraceptive services or contraceptive products approved, cleared, or granted by the Food and Drug Administration.

[learn more]

Mid-Cities Medical has partnered with local, regional and national providers to assist individuals in identifying and overcoming barriers in order to have the services and supports that meet your individual strengths, abilities, priorities, and needs.

3017 Red Hawk Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052

(888) 450-6676 Toll Free (TX)

Patient Care: 24/7/365
Emergency: Call 911

(833) 986-4267 Toll Free (AZ & CA)