With the advancement of technology, more than 9,000 Veterans will be able to take advantage of the Veterans Affairs’ “Close to Me” cancer care expansion program. VA providers will go to communities with outpatient clinics and provide treatment, services, and diagnostics. This will ease the hassle of Veterans traveling to the VA medical center to avail of such services. However, does the VA cover cancer treatment until the patient is cured? The Close to Me program started in 2021 and has treated roughly 500 cancer patient Vets in 20 locations.
According to the VA’s executive director for oncology, Dr. Michael Kelley, they are planning to target thousands more at 30 additional locales. This target is projected by 2025 and will also help reduce VA costs.
The Stand of the VA in Covering Cancer Treatment
Kelly also added that the program will help caregivers and Veterans cope with long-distance travel for long hours. Further, he answered the question, does the VA cover cancer treatment? It is given that the Department of Veterans Affairs will haggle for the drug cost. Still, they will shoulder an average of one-third less for oncology medications, thus saving $1.9 million since the program started.
In a statement last April 25, he further explained that innovative programs allow them to maximize their resources and provide better services to meet the needs of the Vets. This is the primary purpose of Close to Me.
Since its start, the program has had a 99% adherence rate and has not reported any medical emergencies during treatment. According to the VA, this only shows that the patients have completed their individualized care.
What Can Veterans Expect With the New Program?
VA Secretary Denis R. McDonough also said that they wanted Vets to have hassle-free access to care. The expansion will benefit Veterans by improving their experience of personalized, high-quality cancer care closer to home. Currently, two nurses per site manage to provide surveillance and infusion medications.
With the extended program, a physician will be on each site to facilitate treatment and diagnosis. However, there have been some staffing issues. The VA mentioned that it would cut about 10,000 full-time positions from its medical sites, but rest assured that the manpower concerns will hopefully be resolved, and the new positions will be permanent.
Officials of the VA mentioned that the Veterans should get in touch with their providers to learn more about cancer care, does the VA cover cancer treatment, and any program-related questions. Once again, they even encouraged the Vets to get their oncology care via the VA department as they offer the highest-quality care since they have sworn to take care of the entire patient.
Early Warning Signs of Cancer
With our modern technology and treatment, people are living longer after battling cancer. Noticing some of these signs does not mean that you have the illness. It is still best to consult with your doctor. For Veterans, get in touch with Veterans Affairs to know how the VA covers cancer treatment.
1. Sudden Weight Loss
It is better to call your doctor when you notice a rapid weight loss, especially if it is more than 10 pounds. This might be an early sign of cancer.
2. Fatigue
This is different from the feeling after a long day of work. Sometimes, it can be exhaustion that doesn’t get better even after a long rest. Usually, cancer uses your body’s nutrients to grow in advance, so the nutrients cannot replenish your body. However, there are some other underlying causes of fatigue, which do not include cancer.
3. Fever
Sometimes, this can be an early sign of a cold or flu, and it will disappear after a few days. You need to pay attention to these signs as they can be cancer-related: nighttime fever, no other signs of infection, and night sweats. If this persists, it’s better to call for help and find out if the VA covers cancer treatment.
4. Pain
Persistent pain can be one of the early signs, and it can occur in different ways, including a tumor or mass on some parts of your body, the chemicals cancer releases, and metastasis.
5. Change in Skin Complexion
One of the early signs is the yellowing of the eyes or fingertips or even changes in the color or size of moles.
Always be vigilant about these early warning signs; the earlier cancer is detected, the better. Don’t worry about care or medication, as Veterans Affairs has all the facilities and great physicians needed to cure it.
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