Medical issues from toxic exposure are common for military service members who were active in the Vietnam War or the Gulf War, as well as the post-9/11 conflicts. In fact, 97.1% of post-9/11 veterans reported at least one potentially toxic exposure while in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Toxic hazard exposure can have long-lasting health effects, but a law was recently passed to help.
What is the PACT Act?
The PACT Act is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare and benefits expansion that was signed into law by President Joseph Biden on August 22, 2022. It’s the largest VA healthcare expansion in over three decades and went into effect on January 1, 2023.
The complete name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. It extends VA healthcare eligibility for veterans with toxic exposure as well as veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras. It also requires a toxic exposure screening for every veteran who enrolls in VA healthcare.
What does the PACT Act cover?
The PACT Act expands the healthcare benefits available to veterans who have presumptive conditions stemming from burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. It helps to provide coverage for medical needs surrounding more than 20 conditions that are assumed to be caused by toxic exposure while serving.
If the condition is presumptive, it means that the VA doesn’t need proof that it was caused by a veteran’s active duty as long as they meet the service requirements.
For Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans, presumptive conditions from toxic exposure include, but are not limited to:
- Brain cancer.
- Melanoma.
- Kidney cancer.
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Emphysema.
For Vietnam veterans, presumptive conditions from Agent Orange include:
- High blood pressure.
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
Valor Healthcare can help after toxic exposure
Valor Healthcare is a veteran-founded healthcare organization. We aim to provide whole healthcare services to veterans and other patriots. We are the largest contracted provider of outpatient healthcare services for veterans and take pride in delivering world-class services. We were one of the first community-based outpatient clinics to be accredited for ambulatory care by the Joint Commission and continue to focus on quality across all our lines of business.
Valor Healthcare is a team made up of veterans and leading clinicians. We are passionate about making resources available to those who have served our country. Valor was first established in 2004, when an Army veteran and a Navy veteran joined together to create something they both believed in — good-quality outpatient care for veterans.
Interested in the types of services a veteran-focused health consultant company can provide? We specialize in each of the following:
- Outpatient clinic operations.
- Occupational health.
- Behavioral health.
- Population health.
- Value-added services.
Would you benefit from any of the services listed above? Are you a veteran who would like to know more about increased benefits due to the PACT Act? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for guidance. Valor Healthcare partners with public and private medical clinics to bring high-quality healthcare to American veterans. If you are a healthcare professional, you can partner with us to give your patients access to data-driven, 21st-century care.
