April is Whole Health Month!
 Whole Health Month is the perfect time to download the Live Whole Health app. VA’s Live Whole Health app is a free, easy to use tool created for Veterans and others who are ready to take the next step in their Whole Health journey. With this app, you can fill out your Personal Health Inventory, set goals, and learn more about Whole Health.
Download the app today!
Masking Update at VA Long Beach
The following areas require masking for staff, Veterans, and visitors:
Inpatient Areas:
- Inpatient Medicine Units
- Acute Rehabilitation Unit/Blind Rehabilitation Center
- Community Living Center (East, West)
- Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder Center
- Inpatient Mental Health Units
Outpatient Areas:
- Emergency Department
- Clinical Areas where Aerosol Generating Procedures may be performed (Sleep Lab, Ear Nose Throat, Gastro Intestinal, Operating Room, Dental, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Interventional Radiology, Pulmonary procedure areas (i.e. PFT, bronchoscopy suite)
- Infusion Clinic, Dialysis, Radiation Oncology, Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology, Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder
- COVID-19 Testing Areas
Masking is still required for individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection or other respiratory infection, or respiratory symptoms. Individuals may choose to continue using a mask based on personal preference.
Copayment Exemptions for Eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans
 VA is now exempting eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans from copayments for health care and all urgent care visits received on or after January 5, 2022.
This policy implements Section 3002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. Veterans seeking copayment exemption should submit copies of VA Form 10-334 and official tribal documentation to begin receiving this new benefit.
The copayment exemption:
- Retroactively reimburses eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans from copayments for health care and all urgent care visits received on or after January 5, 2022.
- Eliminates future copayment collection of copayments for health care and all urgent care visits for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans.
This new regulation intends to encourage American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans to seek medical care through VA. This regulation also makes health care more accessible and allows VA to better deliver care and health benefits these Veterans have earned through their service to our nation.
We are engaging all our VA partners, including tribal, federal, state and local communities, to ensure that all American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans know of this new policy and have the information they need to participate. Check out copay rates or call 1-800-MyVA411.
Virtual Veteran Town Hall - April 18
 Tune in to our Virtual Veteran Town Hall on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 12-1p.m. on our streaming player at
https://www.access.live/VALongBeachVTH
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day - April 22
 This National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will allow our Veterans to dispose of prescription drugs safely, conveniently, and responsibly. More than three million pounds or 1,733 tons of prescription medications have been collected in past take-back days. Take-back of medications is FREE and ANONYMOUS.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
For more information, call 1-800-882-9539
Collection Site Locations at the VA Long Beach Hospital
5901 E 7th St. Long Beach, CA 90822
Lobby of bldg. 126
Lobby of bldg. 164
Additional location sites are available and added daily
Veterans Legal Institute Legal Clinic - May 5
 The Veterans Legal Institute is partnering with VA Long Beach for a Legal Clinic on Friday, April 7th from 9AM - 10:30AM in Building 165, Rm C209B at VA Long Beach!
Call 714-884-4421 for guidance on the application process and to determine eligibility to attend the clinic. Please specify the type of legal assistance you are seeking.
Please note that all veterans must complete the online application found on www.vetslegal.org prior to attending the clinic (at the beginning of the description of your matter, type ("VA LONG BEACH CLINIC APPOINTMENT REQUESTED.")
*Please bring a copy of your DD214 if you have it available
Check out the updated Spring catalog of The Bulldog, a catalog of health education classes provided by VA Long Beach Healthcare System.
Caregiver Support Program
Have you heard about the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers?
Support for caregivers means making sure you’re informed about the programs, resources, and services available to you. The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) provides clinical services to caregivers of Veterans who are enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care. CSP’s resources are offered through two programs:
- The Program of General Caregiver Support Services, or PGCSS, and
- The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, or PCAFC.
PGCSS is the core of CSP and is available for all caregivers of Veterans enrolled in VA health care. Through PGCSS, caregivers have access to skills training, peer support mentoring, individual or group coaching, respite, mental health counseling, and more.
PCAFC provides additional clinical support services to caregivers of eligible Veterans enrolled in VA health care, who are seriously injured or ill and meet specific criteria. The additional services provided through PCAFC include a monthly stipend, health insurance, if eligible, as well as financial and legal support services.
Watch this short video to learn more about what PCAFC offers. And when you’re ready, click here to learn how to apply for PCAFC.
About the Caregiver Support Program
The Caregiver Support Program promotes the health and well-being of Veterans Caregivers through education, resources, support, and services. Visit CSP’s website to learn more.
To learn about CSP and certain aspects of the program, take a look at our Podcast with VA SITREP.
VA Caregiver Support Line
1-855-260-3274 toll-free
PACT Act
 You may have heard about the new PACT Act that impacts millions of Veterans. This law allows VA to provide more services to more Veterans and survivors who were exposed to environmental toxins such as Agent Orange in Vietnam, burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, or other herbicides or radiation exposures in other places around the world where Veterans have served.
The expansion of VA benefits and services eligibility is massive, and all Veterans should see if it impacts them. You can check your eligibility at: www.va.gov/PACT. There, you’ll be able to view eligibility for all countries, conflicts, conditions and other information to determine your next steps.
To help you navigate your earned benefits and resources, VA created the Accessing PACT Act Benefits and Services map. Download it, share it, follow it.
Download PDF
VA Health Care Eligibility for Post 9/11 era Veterans
Calling all Post-9/11 Veterans! There are six months left to enroll in the PACT Act one-year special enrollment period for VA health care that began October 1, 2022.
To enroll, a Veteran must have:
- Served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or
- Served in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998
And the Veteran must have:
- Been discharged or released between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, and
- Not previously enrolled in VA health care
There are three paths you should consider when applying for toxic exposure benefits:
APPLY FOR VA COMPENSATION BENEFITS
Online or Print & Mail | Get Local Help | Meet with a Specialist |
Call 1-800-MyVA411
Veterans should reapply for PACT Act related claims if previously denied. 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic exposures have been added.
ARE YOU ENROLLED IN VA HEALTH CARE?
Online or Print & Mail | Walk-In | Call 1-800-MyVA411
VA health care and eligibility has expanded for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras. Veterans will be screened for toxic exposure during their VA health care appointments to assess additional health or benefits options.
JOIN TOXIC EXPOSURE REGISTRIES
Agent Orange | Burn Pits | Uranium | Gulf War | Toxic Fragments
Exposure registries are based on health exams for each cited environmental exposure. VA’s health registry evaluation is a free, voluntary medical assessment for Veterans who may have been exposed to certain environmental hazards, and registry data helps VA understand (and respond to) environmental health problems more effectively. Adding your information to these registries does not create a disability compensation claim.
If you don’t know where to start, call us at 1-800-MyVA411 or download the VA Welcome Kit.
Find a VA event to assist with your benefits applications.
Download PACT Act flyers and frequently asked questions.
Sign up for weekly e-mail updates.
See PACT Act progress on the dashboard
Read article on VA's website
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