PACT Q&A

Every once in a while, a topic brings me to a Town Hall meeting.

PACT is one such.

For one thing, as I don't tune in to news programs, my knowledge was lacking.

When I went in search of information on PACT, there was a list of things that acronym stands for, none of which deal with the federal government.

Finally, I found out what those letters mean for current legislation:

Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022.

It passed Congress in just over a year from the time it was introduced.

Very interesting.

So when the Secretary of the Veterans Administration, Denis McDonough, 

arranged to answer questions at the interactive Town Hall on YouTube, 

at 2 PM today, I was there.

I wish I had thought to contact my friend, Josie, as she works with 

veterans as a counselor and as a guide to helpful resources.

I'll make sure she knows in the future.

The questions, each in a video format, seemed to have been well-curated, 

covering a wide variety of issues, from well-spoken and polite active 

duty military, veterans, and military spouses.

Nice range, right?

But I understood.

There were time constraints and they wanted to provide information to as many as people as possible in that 60 minutes.

Most of the questions concerned PACT specifically: Camp Lejeune water, Agent Orange, bio-warfare in the Middle East, burn pits.

However, there were three items that I was glad to see addressed.

The first concerned the importance of the post-care surveys.

Yes, they're rather lengthy, but he stressed that there are three items the VA is most concerned with knowing from patients: 1) Did you receive care when you were told you would; 2) Were you treated courteously and with respect; and 3) Were your questions addressed during that visit.

I always take the time to fill out and return every survey, so it was reassuring to know that the data is being analyzed and problems are being resolved.

The second item I liked was the shortage of nurses at VA facilities.

He told us that July was the first month this year - the first month, this year - that more nurses were hired than were lost.

That was staggering news to me.

I'll be sure to be extra kind to the nurses at the Savannah VA Center on my next visit there.

Not that I'm not polite, mind, but because I know now that the Center is short-staffed.

The third item came up because a veteran was asking about community care.

He lived ninety minutes drive from the closest VA facility and needed to know how he could get treatment locally.

Boy, I remember those days of taking the shuttle to the VA Hospital in Charleston, back in 2016, on multiple occasions.

Even worse was making the drive there in my car, in 2016, with carpal tunnel on one occasion, then again, in 2019, for vision tests after an emergency room visit that turned out to be an optic migraine.

I drove back to Savannah with dilated eyes, in the dark, after that visit.

I don't miss those trips at all.

And why do I not have to go to Charleston anymore for specialists or treatment?

The VA MISSION Act of 2018.

MISSION is an acronym for Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks.

So, if that was in effect in 2018, why did I have to go to Charleston in 2019?

Because the VA Hospital there said so and I didn't know I had a choice to say no and opt for local care here.

Thanks to that law, and today's talk, I understand the rules better.

If you have to drive more than thirty miles for general care, you get to use local doctors.

If you have to drive more than sixty miles for specialist care, you get to use local doctors.

i thank You, God.

I cannot imagine having to go to Charleston to see a cardiologist.

Yes, I'm going to pass this on to Josie.

She'll make sure the people who need the information get it.