What's New
Getting the flu shot is fast, safe, and free for Veterans enrolled in the VA Health Care System. Flu season will be in full swing soon, so what is your flu shot plan this year? Veterans can get their flu shot during a regularly scheduled VA appointment, during one of the walk-in or drive-in flu shot clinics or through a VA Community Care Network pharmacy.
Scheduled Shot Clinics through the VA Facilities:
Brainerd VA Clinic: Drive-thru shot clinic on September 27th & 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Minneapolis VA Medical Center: Walk-in September 28th 1-7:00 p.m
Minneapolis VA Clinics (Shakopee, Mankato, Ramsey, etc): Walk-in September 28th 1-3:00 p.m.
Alexandria VA Clinic: Walk-in shot clinic on September 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Minneapolis VA Medical Center: Walk-in October 5th 1-7:00 p.m
Minneapolis VA Clinics (Shakopee, Mankato, Ramsey, etc): Walk-in October 5th 1-3:00 p.m.
St Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex (Next to the VA-West side): Drive-thru shot clinic on October 5th & 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Montevideo VA Clinic: Walk-in shot clinic on October 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
St Cloud VA Medical Center: Walk-in shot clinic (Bldg 96) on October 7th from 9:00 a.m. to noon
Minneapolis VA Medical Center: Walk-in October 12th 1-7:00 p.m
Minneapolis VA Clinics (Shakopee, Mankato, Ramsey, etc): Walk-in October 12th 1-3:00 p.m.
Minneapolis VA Medical Center: Walk-in October 14th 9:00a.m. - noon
VA Community Care In-Network Pharmacies:
https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
Glencoe: Coborn's Pharmacy
Hutchinson: Thrifty White, CVS, Walmart, and Cash Wise Pharmacy
Winsted: Keaveny Drug
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
MDVA's annual report provides stakeholders and community members with a comprehensive look at their activities and finances. Take a look at the 2022 report here.
VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
On October 1, 2022, the VA began Phase II Expansion of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This phase opened PCAFC to Veterans who served after May 7, 1975 and before September 11, 2001, making Veterans of all eras eligible to apply to PCAFC. Veteran my be eligible for this clinical program if they:
* Have a single or combined service-connected disability rating by the VA of 70% or more AND
* Be in need of personal care services (requiring in-person personal care services) for a minimum of six continuous months based on any one of the following:
- An inability to perform an activity of daily living
- A need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or
- A need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability of the Veteran to function in daily life, would be seriously impaired.
Caregivers PCAFC - Application Process Fact Sheet
Caregivers PCAFC - Eligibility Criteria Fact Sheet
Caregivers PCAFC - Monthly Stipend Fact Sheet
PACT Act Signed into Law
The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans, and their survivors, with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
The PACT Act will bring these changes:
- Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures
- Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
- Helps the VA improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures
Handouts:
2022 PACT Act: Understanding Health Care Eligibility and Benefits
PACT Act VA Health Care Eligibility
Gulf War Service – Burn Pits & Other Toxin Exposures Presumptive Conditions
Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions
Ionizing Radiation Exposure
Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Presumptive Conditions
Post 9/11 Veteran Service Bonus
The 2022 Legislature passed the first-ever Veterans Omnibus Bill that included funding for a service bonus payable to eligible Veterans who served from 9/11/2001 to 8/30/2021. The application opened July 7, 2022 and will run until June 30, 2024, or until funds have been exhausted. There are three tiers of this bonus: $600, $1,200 and $2,000. For more information, visit here. To apply, visit here.