Director’s Message to Veterans Affairs July 12, 2024 | VA Pacific Islands Health Care

Veterans of the American Civil War, which includes Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, must travel to access certain services that are not available locally. Recognizing the financial and logistical constraints this places on Veterans and their families, VAPIHCS is committed to addressing these concerns through various support initiatives and programs.

To mitigate the costs associated with traveling for medical services, VA offers several support mechanisms, including our Beneficiary Travel (BT) program, through which eligible Veterans can receive reimbursement for travel expenses related to obtaining VA health care. This includes reimbursement for travel expenses and other travel-related expenses.

Eligibility for BT is determined after meeting one of these criteria:

-A Veteran traveling to or from a VA medical facility or a VA-authorized medical facility for treatment or care for a service-connected (SC) disability (regardless of disability percentage).

-A Veteran with a SC disability rated at 30% or more who travels to or from a VA medical facility or VA-authorized medical facility for examination, treatment, or care for any condition.

-A Veteran who visits a VA-authorized medical facility or medical facility for a scheduled Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination.

-A veteran receiving a pension under 38 USC § 1521, who travels to or from a VA medical facility or a VA-authorized medical facility for examination, treatment, or care.

-A veteran whose annual income (as determined under 38 USC § 1503) does not exceed the maximum annual pension rate the veteran would receive under 38 USC § 1521 (as adjusted under 38 USC § 5312), if the veteran were eligible for pension, and travels to or from a VA medical facility or a VA-authorized medical facility for examination, treatment, or care.

-A veteran traveling to obtain a service dog under 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 17.148, regardless of whether the veteran meets the eligibility requirements set forth in 38 CFR § 70. NOTE: VA will pay travel expenses associated with obtaining a replacement service dog, even if the veteran receives other benefits for the service dog he or she is replacing.

– Veterans with a visual impairment, spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D), or double or multiple amputations whose travel is related to care provided by a VA special disability rehabilitation program (including programs provided by spinal cord injury centers, rehabilitation centers for the blind, and prosthetic rehabilitation centers), if such care is provided in a hospital setting; or

during a period in which the VA provides the Veteran with temporary accommodations at a VA medical facility to make such care more accessible to the Veteran.

Reimbursement of VA travel expenses. This program provides financial assistance to veterans who travel long distances for specialty care not available in the Pacific Islands. It covers the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals. Veterans may apply for travel reimbursement through the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) or by completing VA Form 10-3542 online. Requests for payment must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the travel completion date or the date the applicant is notified that they are eligible for travel payments if the request is based on a change in eligibility. ​Home · BTSSS (dynamics365portals.us)

Telehealth services. The VA has expanded its telehealth services, allowing Veterans to receive medical consultations and follow-up care remotely. This reduces the need to travel by providing convenient access to health care professionals from home. This service is particularly useful in the Pacific Islands, where travel can be difficult and time-consuming. Telehealth provides access to consultations, follow-ups, and some types of therapies without the need to physically travel.

Awareness and coordination. The VA is actively working with local veterans organizations and state agencies to ensure veterans are informed of available resources and support programs. This collaborative effort aims to simplify the process and provide timely assistance to those who need it.

VA remains committed to ensuring that all Veterans, regardless of where they live, have access to the quality health care they deserve. By leveraging these programs and continually seeking new solutions, VA is working to ease the burdens faced by Pacific Islander Veterans and improve their overall well-being.

Chaplain Jewel’s Reflections

The Audacity to Thrive

Roses are practically everywhere. There are hundreds of species and varieties. We may not know their subtle differences, but we see them so often that we have become “rose blind.” These beautiful flowers grow naturally in the wild or are cultivated to grow in gardens. They adapt to changing climates and thrive in almost any soil. Archaeologists have discovered rose fossils that are millions of years old. The world’s oldest living rose, known as the Millennial Rose in Hildesheim, Germany, is believed to have thrived for about 700 years. Roses are so beloved around the world that they are featured in fashion prints. We see them in paintings, on tableware, as centerpieces, wallpaper, and jewelry. They are used as emollients and perfumes, and they are very popular in wedding arrangements.

A national emblem of versatility and loyalty, the rose represents our veterans, their families, survivors, caregivers, and ourselves – all citizens of this nation who adapt to situations while thriving together despite adversity. Our relentless efforts to overcome difficulties and persevere through unfathomable challenges lend credibility to our audacity to thrive. We do so with strength and poise, diversity and patriotism, commitment and resilience.

May we honor the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice to win our nation’s freedom, and may we hold in high esteem those who continue to protect it.

In the poem To Thrive is Life, Okim Otu writes: “Though the sun, thrive! Though the rain falls, thrive! Though the wind blows, thrive! All you have to do is thrive!”

Blessings and Mahalo.

One team, one Ohana!

Dr. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MBA, CPE

VA Pacific Islands Health System Director

VADM, MC, USN, (RET) 36th Surgeon General, USN