Did you know? Information on Health Resources for Truman VA Veterans » helpful wiki Sponsored

At Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, we are proud to serve our nation’s heroes and are always looking for ways to improve the care we provide. One way to do this is to keep our veterans and their families as informed as possible.

Veterans sometimes tell us that they were unaware of a particular service we offer or that a process for receiving a service has changed. Below are some of the services we offer that veterans may want to learn more about.

Did you know that veterans who qualify for VA care can connect with their healthcare providers through real-time virtual appointments? VA Video Connect allows veterans to meet with their care teams quickly and easily over a secure and private video connection using their internet-enabled smartphone, personal computer or tablet.

Here are some examples of reasons a veteran might decide to use VA Video Connect:

• You prefer to receive your care at home or elsewhere. A veteran finished his medical appointment while camping!

• You find getting to your VA healthcare facility difficult or time-consuming.

• You are too busy to regularly attend in-person appointments.

• You must see a VA specialist who is not located near you.

Getting started with VA Video Connect is easy. First, talk to your VA healthcare provider to make sure telehealth is a good fit and will meet your care needs. If you want to use a smartphone, download the free VA Video Connect app via the App Store if you have an Apple device. Android devices do not require an app. If you would like to test your mobile device before your appointment, visit mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect.

Once you have made an appointment with your VA provider through VA Video Connect, you will receive an email notification from VA with instructions. On the date and a few minutes before your scheduled appointment, open VA Video Connect by clicking on the appointment link included in the email you received. VA Video Connect automatically opens in a web browser on Windows, macOS and Android devices after clicking the link.

If you do not have a device to access VA Video Connect, talk to your healthcare provider about receiving a VA-provided device.

The process for submitting a travel reimbursement claim for a beneficiary has recently changed. On February 18, 2022, Truman VA ceased using freestanding in-house kiosks. In their place, eligible veterans, caregivers, and beneficiaries now use the VA’s online portal known as the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS).

Like VA Video Connect, BTSSS can be accessed via smartphone, tablet, laptop or personal computer. The new system allows eligible veterans, caregivers and beneficiaries to submit claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from anywhere, anytime. It also allows users to electronically track the status of a claim request.

Before logging in for the first time, a DS Logon account issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) is required. A DS login is a form of identification that allows veterans and caregivers to access VA and DoD sites with a username and password. Veterans can also log in using a VA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or “ID.me” card, another simple method that only requires an email address and password to confirm. ‘identity.

To submit a travel-related claim, visit eauth.va.gov/accessva/, select the description that best identifies you (for example, “I am a veteran” or “I am a family member”), then choose “Veteran Travel Reimbursement Request Entry.” » If you do not already have a DS Logon or other secure VA partner, such as those listed above, you can register for one on this site.

For one-on-one assistance or for more information about the BTSSS, please contact the Truman VA Beneficiary Travel Team by calling (573) 814-6215.

Finally, one of the most common concerns of our veterans is the delivery of prescription drugs by mail. Throughout VA, we use a mail-order system to easily deliver medications to our veterans’ doorsteps. Prescriptions typically arrive within three to five days, and veterans should request repeat orders at least 10 days before they’re needed. However, veterans should consider COVID-related delays as they relate to the shipping industry.

Either way, we strongly encourage our veterans to request a refill as soon as they receive their initial order. In other words, a veteran does not have to wait until they have only 10 days of medication left before requesting a renewal. By ordering refillable prescriptions immediately, delivery delays are avoided.

Additionally, veterans who sign up for My HealtheVet can renew their VA prescriptions, track their delivery, and create lists to organize their medications online. To learn more about My HealtheVet, visit www.myhealth.va.gov, or call us at Truman VA at (573) 814-6000.

Truman VA is committed to providing excellent patient care, education and research. To find out if you qualify for VA health care, call (573) 814-6535.