Diabetes Education at the VA!

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed as being either pre-diabetic or diabetic, the VA offers classes to help you reverse the diagnosis if you’re pre-diabetic and how to control it and live healthier if you’re diabetic. It’s estimated that 38% of the general population is Pre-Diabetic and 11% is Diabetic. The percentage of Veterans with these diseases is higher, which is why they want to educate Veterans to take preventive measures. The side effects of having Diabetes include a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, vision damage, and nerve damage to name a few.

Pre-diabetes, which is reversible, is a warning that you are headed for diabetes which cannot be reversed. They base this on the A1C which is an indicator of how much sugar is stuck to your red blood cells. The classes have subject-matter experts such as a dietician who will speak about do and don’ts, a nurse, and a pharmacist who will talk about the medications available and answer questions. There are in-person and online classes each month. The in-person classes are on the VA Campus, Building 117 in Room 134. The Pre-Diabetic classes are generally on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month online and the 4^th Wednesday of each month in person from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  The Diabetes classes are usually on the 1^st Wednesday online and the 3^rd Wednesday in person from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you can’t get to a class in person, you can take an online class. The Health Resource Center will provide you with an iPad if you need one. You just need the internet. To register for either an in-person or an online class, call either Kathy Bryson or Janee Lai at 928-445-4860 x 2581. They will send you a booklet prior to class so you can mark your questions.  Those attending online will get an email with the link.  You do not have to go through your Primary Care Team for a referral. The remaining upcoming classes for July are listed below. There is no Pre-Diabetes in-person class this month.

Pre-Diabetes Education Online --  July 12 from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.                          

Diabetes Education -- July 19 from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  VA Building 117, Room 134

Upcoming Events:​

Women Veterans Art Forum      July 15, 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Join Becky DuRocher for this relaxing and healing workshop specifically for women Veterans. You don’t need to be an artist to attend, but you do need to pre-register by July 12 by calling 602-314-4250. The class is limited to 30 people and it’s FREE! So try something new and sign up!

Virtual Town Hall     July 19, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Join this informative call to get your questions answered by leaders and subject-matter experts on services, benefits, resources, and the PACT Act. You will get a reminder call on July 17 if you have signed up. If you get that call, then you will get the call automatically on July 19. If you are not signed up but want to listen in, call 833-490-0775 or click access.live/NAVAHCS. You do not need a computer or smartphone to be on this call; you just need a landline.

HopeFest    August 19    Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza

Come one, come all to the 11th Annual HopeFest! This will be a fun day with music, food, a car and motorcycle show, and much more. This is mainly for Veterans but it’s open to everyone. More details to come, but mark your calendars.

Meet and Greet for RWOP Veterans   August 29, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Whiskey River Tavern

RWOP honors our Veterans in many ways including a free lunch in November. However, we would like our Veterans to have an opportunity to get to know each other better as well as have any questions answered that they may have regarding the VA or RWOP. We will have speakers from the VA, the Women Veterans Program, and U.S. VETS – Prescott as well as some RWOP Board members, but the majority of the time will be spent having a chance to chat with each other. We realize that our luncheons are packed full so there’s not a lot of time to converse. The event will be held at the Whiskey River Tavern, 214 S. Montezuma St in Prescott. We will have appetizers and a no-host bar. We would love to see as many of our men and women Veterans as we can from RWOP! Contact Deb Robbins, Armed Services Chair, by August 15 at either phxlass@cox.net or 602-402-7069.

Benetravel Update:

The VA will pay for your travel if you need to go to a different VA facility for an

appointment, for example, to Phoenix. However, note that the time allotted to

submit those claims has changed. VA National now requires you to submit your

claims within 30 days of your appointment or they will not be reimbursed. Any claims you have saved up since 2020 (when the extension beyond 30 days went into effect due to Covid) needed to be submitted by June 9th. Any questions, please call 928-445-4860 ext. 6144.

PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins) Act Veterans have multiple ways of submitting their claims for Toxic Exposure and there is a lot of good information for reference and to assist Veterans with the new PACT Act Claims. The quickest way is to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment here:  https://vets.force.com/VAVERA/s/

If you have questions about the PACT Act visit va.gov/PACT. This act is for service members and their survivors who had environmental exposures during their military service. This coverage is extended to veterans of the Viet Nam, Gulf War, and Post 9/11 eras. The burden of proof is no longer on the veteran. There are presumptive conditions such as cancers, Parkinson's Disease, Hypertension, etc. If you’re not enrolled, please do so even if just for this coverage here:  VA.gov/healthcare/apply/application/introduction or call 877-222-8387, M-F, 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’ve been turned down before, apply again. The rules for eligibility change. The benefits are being paid out now and will be back-dated to August 2022, when the act was signed. The VA warns all Veterans about SCAMS. You do not need a third-party company to fill out the application. Often these companies will give you a blank form to sign and say they will fill it out and mail it, or they will have you sign a contract giving them a percentage of your benefits. If you need assistance, go to an accredited group by the VA such as DAV, VFW, or other local Veteran Service Organizations. This Act provides Veterans and their survivors with the benefits and care they have earned and deserve.

COMPACT Act (Comprehensive Prevention Access to Care Treatment)

As of January 17, 2023 Veterans in Acute Suicidal Crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA

healthcare facility for emergency healthcare at no cost including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system. You can call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with qualified crisis support 24/7.

VA Benefits can help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. You can join an event for conversation and information by going to www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/ to peruse their online events. You can also call the VA Benefits Hotline at 800-827-1000.

The Arizona Dept. of Veteran Services assists veterans and their family members in qualifying and applying for benefits. They help with service-connected disabilities to non-service-connected pensions, assist with burial claims, and run an Arizona State Veterans Home, among other services. They can help you determine your benefits and submit claims, including those with the PACT Act and COMPACT Act. They also help with appeals because laws change, diagnoses change, and people get new evidence. They are at the VA in Building 15 twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but you can also meet with them virtually or on the phone. Call 602-535-1215

for questions and appointments.