PACT Act Expanded - Veteran Town Hall - Claims Clinic and Toxic Exposure Screenings Event

We will also host a Veterans Benefits Claims Clinic and offer Toxic Exposure Screenings (TES) to enrolled Veterans, on April 29, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Pavilion, located at the north parking lot.  Please bring your DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty if you are not enrolled for VA health care. 

Veterans Benefits Administration Representatives, as well as Veteran Service Officers, will be available to talk about Toxic Exposure claims or other benefits information. Veterans who are not currently enrolled with the VA will have the opportunity to talk with staff to learn more about the PACT Act, enroll, or receive information to enroll in VA health care. Toxic Exposure Screenings will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, otherwise, appointments can be made for (TES) with a provider.

The significance of the expansion is VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more, can also receive care. “As a combat Veteran myself, stated Roy Samsel, Acting Medical Center Director, I know the importance of getting enrolled in VA health care. The most important takeaway is proactively developing a long-term health care plan with your care team. It can help detect conditions early and treat or lessen the effect of complications resulting from exposure(s).”

Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans. 

If you are unable to attend this event and are not currently enrolled in VA health care, please contact Eligibility at 989-497-2500, Ext. 13120 or 13121. If you are already enrolled in VA health care and cannot attend, please contact your Primary Care Team to schedule a Toxic Exposure Screening.

The Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan operates an 81-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation Community Living Center. It provides care to over 40,126 Veterans in a 35-county geographic area, from mid-Michigan to the Mackinac Bridge. Veterans can also receive care at one of our nine VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics located throughout Michigan. More information about this VA can be found at www.va.gov/saginaw-health-care/.   

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Tara Scheuer, Public Affairs Officer

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