V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen urged veterans health care officials to allow local doctors to provide medical care to the territory’s veterans. The discussion took place Tuesday in Puerto Rico, her office announced.
Also taking part in the veterans health care discussion were officials with the V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs, the National Guard and the American Legion, including VA Caribbean Health Care System Director DeWayne Hamlin and Veterans Integrated System Network Director Joleen Clark.
Under the current process, veterans in the U.S. Virgin Islands have to travel for treatment to health centers in Puerto Rico. During the meeting Christensen pushed for V.I. veterans to receive health care from local physicians and medical facilities, along with other issues related to veterans.
“We discussed the need to have more veterans health care services be provided in the Virgin Islands and it is anticipated that physician/provider reimbursement will be improved,” Christensen said. “We want to ensure that treatment for our veterans is available and timely and we are encouraging Virgin Islands doctors to participate.”
Christensen also announced that the Methodist Training and Outreach Center Inc. on St. Thomas will receive a $280,877 grant award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.
Almost $300 million in grants have been awarded under the VA’s Supportive Services for Veterans Families program to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The money provides services to very low-income veterans and their families living in – or transitioning to – permanent housing.
The grants will fund the fourth year of the SSVF program.
“This is a program that makes a difference in the lives of veterans and their families by providing the care and support they deserve and have earned,” Christensen said.
Under the terms of the grants, providers of homeless services will offer veterans and their family members outreach, case management, assistance with obtaining VA benefits and assistance in receiving other public benefits.
Community groups can also offer temporary financial assistance on behalf of veterans for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs.
