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Guidance for Veterans

VA COVID-19 Screening Tool

The Department of Veterans Affairs released a digital COVID-19 screening tool to streamline Veteran access to medical care during the pandemic. Veterans, their caregivers, or VA health professionals can use this tool before entering facilities. Access the tool here.

Economic Impact Payments for Veterans

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS announced today that they are working directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure Veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments will receive their Economic Impact Payments automatically and without additional paperwork.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by COVID-19?

San Bernardino County

The County Veterans Affairs offices are still open and ready to assist veterans with their needs by phone. You can call the Rancho Cucamonga office at (909) 948-6470 or the San Bernardino office at (909) 382-3290.

Los Angeles County

Veterans in Los Angeles County may contact an MVA Veteran Service Officer directly by calling (877) 4LA-VETS or via e-mail at outreach@mva.lacounty.gov.

VA Health Centers

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

VA Loma Linda Healthcare System

What should veterans do if they think they have COVID-19?

Before visiting local VA medical facilities, community providers, urgent care centers, or emergency departments in their communities, veterans experiencing COVID-19 symptoms—such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath—are encouraged tocall their VA medical facilityor callMyVA311 (844-698-2311, press #3 to be connected). Veterans can also send secure messages to their health care providers viaMyhealtheVet, VA's online patient portal. VA clinicians will evaluate veterans' symptoms and direct them to the most appropriate providers for further evaluation and treatment. This may include referral to state or local health departments for COVID-19 testing.

What about routine appointments and previously scheduled procedures?

VA is encouraging all veterans to call their VA facility before seeking any care—even previously scheduled medical visits, mental health appointments, or surgical procedures. Veterans can also send secure messages to their health care providers viaMyhealtheVet and find out whether they should still come in for their scheduled appointments. VA providers may arrange to convert appointments tovideo visits, where possible.

Can visitors still access VA medical facilities?

Many VA medical facilities have cancelled public events for the time being, and VA is urging all visitors who do not feel well to postpone their visits to local VA medical facilities. Facilities have also been directed to limit the number of entrances through which visitors can enter. Upon arrival, all patients, visitors, and employees will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and possible exposure.

What about VA nursing homes and spinal cord injury units?

On March 10, 2020,VA announced that its 134 nursing homes (also called VA community living centers) and 24 spinal cord injury and disorder centers would beclosed to all outside visitors. All clinical staff will be screened for COVID-19 daily before entering the nursing home or spinal cord injury units, and staff will work only within those units to limit possible transmission of the virus. Exceptions to the visitor policy will only be made for cases when veterans are in their last stages of life on hospice units or inpatient spinal cord injury units.

Courtesy of House Committee on Veterans' Affairs