When the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) expires on May 11, 2023, a few of VA’s pandemic-related authorities will expire as properly. VA has been making ready for this second for months, working to make this transition as seamless as potential for Veterans, their households, caregivers and survivors. VA can be working with our companions within the Administration and in Congress to increase or reinstate many of those authorities when potential.

As our nation enters this new second, VA stays dedicated to delivering world-class care and advantages to all these we serve. If you’re involved concerning the expiration of any of those authorities, we encourage you to succeed in out to your native VA medical middle, name 800-698-2411, or go to VA’s Contact Us webpage. We will just be sure you get the care and assist that you’ve earned.

Here is an summary of how the top of the PHE will impression VA care and providers:

• Return to in-person visits for Veteran Family Caregivers. During the pandemic, VA relaxed necessities for in-person visits related to VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and as a substitute carried out most of these visits just about. These visits included preliminary home-care assessments, residence care reassessments and wellness contacts. This flexibility will finish on May 11, 2023. In-person visits have already resumed for many Veterans and household caregivers making use of for or collaborating in PCAFC who require in-home visits. VA is actively speaking with all collaborating Veterans and caregivers to assist them via this transition.

• Expanded use of VA Video Connect for telehealth. Following expiration of the PHE, the Department of Health and Human Services will resume enforcement of HIPAA Rules relating to telehealth. VA will due to this fact restrict the telehealth platforms that can be utilized by Veterans for scheduled video visits with VA well being care professionals. Veterans will nonetheless, nonetheless, be capable of entry telehealth utilizing VA Video Connect, the first video platform licensed for scheduled video telehealth visits. Webex might be licensed in its place platform for scheduled video telehealth visits below specified circumstances, resembling when VA Video Connect is unavailable.
• During the general public well being emergency, VA clinicians have been capable of prescribe managed medicines to Veterans following a telehealth examination with out first having an in-person examination. DEA and SAMHSA have introduced a temporary rule that can prolong the present PHE associated flexibilities for prescribing managed medicines, so VA’s prescribing flexibility won’t expire when the general public well being emergency ends. Additionally, DEA, in live performance with HHS and in coordination with VA, has proposed rules for telemedicine flexibilities past the declared public well being emergency.
• Impact on Veterans experiencing homelessness. During the PHE, Veterans experiencing homelessness and people collaborating in HUD-VASH may obtain extra direct assist from VA—together with help wanted for the security and survival of the Veteran (resembling meals, shelter, clothes, blankets and hygiene gadgets), transportation wanted to assist the steadiness and well being of the Veteran (resembling for appointments with service suppliers, conducting housing searches, and acquiring meals and provides), communications gear and providers wanted to assist the steadiness and well being of the Veteran (resembling tablets, smartphones, disposable telephones and associated service plans), and extra. After May 11, 2023, Veterans will not be capable of obtain the sort of direct assist below this authority. Congress has proposed laws that may authorize VA to proceed offering the help described above after the top of the PHE, however for now, we’re taking all potential steps to make this transition as clean as potential for Veterans experiencing homelessness—together with providing assist via our Supportive Services for Veterans Families program, native Centers for Development and Civic Engagement (previously Voluntary Service), and neighborhood companions. For extra data, electronic mail HomelessVets@va.gov or go to VA’s webpage for homeless Veterans. Veterans may nonetheless search well being care journey reimbursement in the event that they’re touring for care at a VA well being facility or for VA-approved care at a non-VA well being facility and are eligible for journey pay. To apply for these advantages, visit the travel pay website.
• Reinstatement of pre-pandemic deadlines for VA journey reimbursement. Under the PHE, VA prolonged the deadline for Veterans and caregivers to use for journey reimbursement for mileage and different journey bills to and from permitted well being care appointments, that means that Veterans may apply for these advantages past the conventional 30-day window. This flexibility will finish on June 9, 2023. After that date, Veterans submitting a declare for journey reimbursement must submit it inside 30 days of their VA medical appointment. Veterans will even be required to submit beneficiary journey appeals inside 12 months. To be taught extra about journey reimbursement and eligibility, go to the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service website.
• Removal of VA’s authorized authority to supply COVID-19 vaccinations to spouses, caregivers and Veterans not enrolled in VA well being care. During the PHE, VA was licensed to supply COVID-19 vaccinations to spouses, caregivers and Veterans who usually are not enrolled within the VA well being care system. Following the expiration of the PHE on May 11, 2023, VA will not have this authorized authority. Spouses, caregivers and Veterans not eligible for VA well being care are inspired to stay updated with beneficial vaccines and entry COVID-19 vaccination in the neighborhood: Vaccines.gov – Find COVID19 vaccine locations near you.