Pharmacogenomics -- Veteran travel 101: Applying for Travel Reimbursement -- Everything you Need to Know About VA Urgent Care Services -- Expanding Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening -- Upcoming Dwyer Events

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Pharmacogenomics: When One Size Does Not Fit All

Genes are parts of our DNA that provide instructions on how your body develops and functions. Everyone has small differences in their genes, and because of this, people may respond differently to medicines.

Pharmacogenomics uses information from YOUR genes to help find the right dose and medicine for you. VA now offers a no-cost blood test to patients to understand how your body responds to medicines.

How can the results be beneficial for you?

Help your provider find a medication that is safe for you.
Decrease side effects.
Reduce the trial-and-error process of medication commonly seen with antidepressants and pain regimens.

Medications that can be impacted include:

Antidepressants
Pain medications
Stomach medications
Cholesterol medications
And many more

What do I need to know before testing?

Testing is free for Veterans.
Pharmacogenomics is just one factor that may impact how you respond to a medicine.
Other factors include your age, sex, race, ethnicity, and other medicines you may be taking.
Federal law protects patients from discrimination by insurance companies or employers based on testing results.
If you have had a liver or certain bone marrow transplants, you are not a candidate for testing.

Need more information?

Pharmacogenomic testing is currently available at all VA medical centers and outpatient clinics in VISN 4 including Altoona, Butler, Coatesville, Erie, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware.

To learn more, view a brief video explaining pharmacogenomic testing. You may also visit our website and get answers to frequently asked questions.

If you are interested in testing, please speak to your health care provider, and never stop taking your medications without first speaking to your provider.

If you still have questions, feel free to email us at visn4pharmacogenomicsteam@va.gov.

Veteran Travel 101: Applying for Travel Reimbursement

VA wants to make it easy for you to receive care, and to help you travel to and from your appointments. VA offers many options for quality health care tailored for Veterans, from VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics to virtual care and telehealth appointments.

If you do need a face-to-face appointment, you may incur a cost to travel to see a provider. Did you know you may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of those travel expenses? VA’s travel reimbursement program can help.

“Our mission is to ensure timely access to world class health care regardless of your location or the way you choose to get care—in-person, over the phone or video appointments, at VA or in the community,” said Hillary Peabody, acting assistant under secretary of Health for Integrated Veteran Care. “Travel reimbursements can make a real difference when it puts money back in the wallets of Veterans and their beneficiaries. We know the challenges of getting to an appointment. The cost to get there shouldn’t be one of them.”

Who is Eligible?

Veterans who travel for care at a VA health facility or for VA-approved care at a non-VA health facility in their community and who also meet one of the following:

You have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher.
You’re traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition even if your VA disability rating is less than 30%.
You receive a VA pension.
You have an income below the maximum annual VA pension rate.
You can’t afford to pay for your travel, as defined by VA guidelines.
You’re traveling for a scheduled VA claim exam, also called a compensation and pension (C&P) exam), to get a service dog or for VA-approved transplant care.

Eligible Veterans can file claims for:

Regular transportation, such as by car, plane, train, bus, taxi or light rail.
Approved meals and lodging expenses.

VA can also reimburse caregivers for transportation and related lodging and meals if they meet any one of the three requirements below:

They are a family caregiver under the National Caregiver Program traveling to receive caregiver training or support your care.
They are a medically required attendant traveling with you to support your care.
They are your transplant care donor or support person.

Before Filing

Before filing a claim:

Keep your receipts for all transportation and approved meals or lodging. Be sure to track your mileage to and from appointments.
Set up direct deposit. VA will deposit reimbursements into your bank account.
File your claim on time. You must file within 30 days of the appointment or 30 days from when you become eligible for reimbursement. File a new claim for each appointment.

To File a Claim:

Use the step-by-step instructions online to file a claim through the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS) and refer to the Beneficiary Travel Frequently Asked Questions.

You can also file your claim by mail, fax, email or in-person at the VA facility where you received care. Complete the Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expense Form (VA Form 10-3542) and use the VA facility locator to find your facility’s contact information.

You can also contact your local Beneficiary Travel point of contact if you need help with your travel claim.

For more information, visit VA travel pay reimbursement.

Support and Resources:

Everything you Need to Know About VA Urgent Care Services

Many Veterans may not be aware of life-changing benefits they’ve earned—and deserve—through military service. This outreach kit about VA urgent care services includes flyers, social media graphics and suggested corresponding language, radio public service announcements (PSA), newsletter content and a sample blog post to help you spread the word. Please share this information broadly with your networks, family and friends.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can use over 4,000 urgent care locations to treat non-life-threatening conditions.

VA covers urgent care services at VA medical centers and in network community providers,

If you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care and you received care at a VA or in-network provider sometime in the past 24 months, check your eligibility by contacting your local VA health facility. Or call 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) (TTY: 711). Select option 1, then option 3, then option 1. Family members can’t use your urgent care benefit.

You can print a copy of the urgent care assistance card or show the card on your mobile device. Download the VA urgent care billing information card.

What do to when you arrive at a community urgent care provider:

Confirm that the provider is in VA’s network. Check for a posted sign or ask a staff member. If you go to an out-of-network urgent care provider, you may have to pay for the full cost of care. By law, VA can’t pay claims for out-of-network providers.

Show your VA Health Identification Card and fill out the provider’s intake form.

Tell the provider you want to use your VA urgent care benefit. Show the provider your urgent care assistance card if requested. The provider will call the phone number for your region listed on the card to check your eligibility.

Find a VA-approved urgent care provider and pharmacy at VA.gov/find-locations before seeking care. Providers can change over time. Before seeking care, print this VA Billing Information guide for you, your provider, and your pharmacy.

For the full article, click here: Everything you need to know about VA urgent care services - VA News

Expanding Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment

You can be screened for colorectal cancer from the comfort of your home with an easy-to-use test kit.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so VA is shining a light on the facts about this cancer, who should get screened and why screening is more accessible to Veterans than you might think.

What is colon or colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and each year VA diagnoses approximately 4,000 new cases of it. VA remains committed to improving colorectal cancer outcomes for all Veterans by increasing screening and access to care.

Who should be screened for colorectal cancer?

The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age, and screening is recommended for all adults aged 45 to 75. This cancer typically begins as an asymptomatic growth (polyp) on the lining of the colon or rectum. Screening is crucial to detect polyps early before they have a chance to become cancer or to detect cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective.

Upcoming Dwyer Events

FAMILY CAMP AT ONYAHSA: May 10th – 12th

At the YMCA Camp on the Lake. Families are invited to come spend the weekend on beautiful Chautauqua Lake and enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, fishing, games, crafts, and oodles of food!

No one goes away hungry. Heated cabins with indoor facilities will accommodate about 40 campers. Registration is REQUIRED.

PUPS WITH PURPOSE: June 23rd 11am – 3 pm: Dwyer Chautauqua has a new partner in the south. The Warren area has started a group called Be Well Warrior and their goal is to hold events similar to ours. We are invited to any of their activities and are hoping for some of them to join us. This event is a picnic at Werner Park on Rt. 62 in Russell, before the Warren VA. New Hope Service Dogs will be there too. Picnic lunch served.

More of their events will be posted in a new email tagged: Dwyer partner program: Be Well Warriors.

DWYER FAMILY PICNIC AT MIDWAY PARK: July 14th

We have rented the large pavilion down by the lake for the day. Free tickets for veteran and their immediate family. Others may purchase a ride ticket for $14.

Hotdogs, water, plates, and plastic ware are provided. Please consider bringing a dish to pass. Registration is requested by email, please.

We are planning on having a “Dwyer Taxi” to shuttle people between the parking lot and the pavilion.

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