Expanding access to colorectal cancer screening and treatment

You can be screened for colorectal cancer from the comfort of your home with an easy-to-use test kit.  March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so VA is shining a light on the facts about this cancer, who should get screened and why screening is more accessible to Veterans than you might think.  What is colon or colorectal cancer? Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and each year VA diagnoses approximately 4,000 ne...

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Reducing falls by focusing on hip muscles

Three million older adults find themselves being treated in emergency departments annually for injuries related to falling. Falls are the leading cause of injury related death and non-fatal injuries in those 65 and older.  Veteran participating in fall prevention exercise Ask Air Force Veteran Raymond Payne and Army Veteran David Webber, both 78, whose balance and foot-related issues have caused them to fall.  “I started having problems with balance and falling,&rd...

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Look after your heart with help from TRICARE

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S.? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, about 695,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths. Taking care of your heart is very important.  “Keeping your heart healthy is important at any age,” said Jeannine Pickrell, RN, nurse consultant for Disease Management & Populati...

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The PACT Act: 2024 Expanded Health Care Eligibility toolkit

Beginning March 5, 2024, VA made all Veterans who meet the basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins while serving our country eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. We’re using every tool at VA’s disposal to ensure that as many of these Veterans as possible come to VA for their care.  This expansion of care means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, th...

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