VA continues to expand healthcare for veterans

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The U.S. Veterans Administration has expanded its largest effort to date to deliver more healthcare services to more veterans. It’s a program known as the Pact Act, which has been underway for two years.

So far, the Pact Act has brought 750,000 veterans into the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Many did not know they were eligible or sought medical treatment outside the VA.

This is the largest expansion of veteran’s benefits since the G.I. Bill was introduced during World War II.

One of the biggest targets are so-called burn pit victims who were exposed to burning toxins during their service.

“It expanded healthcare benefits to millions of veterans and their survivors, and particularly those who were exposed to toxins while serving our country. And so, what it did, it made all veterans who have served our country and been exposed to toxins eligible for VA health care,” said Adam Farina, Assistant VA Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.

During the two years the Pact Act has been in effect, the VA has also received four-and-a-half million claims for disability compensation. That is the highest number ever recorded.

For more information on VA healthcare, go to their website by clicking here .

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