Wednesday VA changes
Couple of changes coming up, some of which might affect you.
First up – VA is simplifying the number of separate logins you may need. A couple of years back, you could log in under MyHealtheVet, DS, VA, IDMe, and for all I know pinky swearing. Seemed to me that every time I logged in with one, I somehow got directed to another and was using the password for my work computer or something, so I was constantly changing passwords and getting ticked off. The VA went away at some point, MyHealtheVet deferred to VA, and now they are saying you need to use either IDMe or Login.gov. Disappointed in so few choices? Don’t be.
Roughly 20 million people will eventually move to the new system, myAuth, from the legacy DS Logon authentication system used by roughly 200 DoD and VA websites. The new cloud-based myAuth is more secure than DS Logon and will simplify the verification process, according to Defense Department officials.
The Defense Department will introduce the new system in phases and has started with milConnect, the website for benefits and the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, and ID Card Office Online. Users who go to access those websites via their Common Access Cards or DS Logon credentials will receive prompts to create myAuth accounts.
Me, I feel better – they are adding yet another system for which I will probably not remember password, mother’s blood type, or father’s left big toe length. But drioudly:
To get a myAuth account, users must have a DS Logon or a CAC card. Those who don’t have a CAC or a DS Logon must create a one-time DS Logon account in the next 18 months and then create a myAuth account. If they wait until after the DS Logon system is gone, they will need to reverify their identities, according to the department. Military.com
VA part deux – if you have been receiving civilian care authorized by VA, you are probably aware that your authorization for the non-VA care must be periodically renewed, right?
VA officials said that, under the change, eligible veterans will receive 12 months of uninterrupted medical services from private providers covered by the department without needing a new authorization.
Before the change, which went into effect Monday, VA community care specialty referrals were reevaluated every 90 to 180 days, according to the department.
Under the program, veterans can go to private doctors if they must wait more than 20 days for a primary or mental health care appointment at the VA or face a drive of 30 minutes or longer. For specialty care, the standards are a 60-minute drive or 28-day wait.
The changes were triggered by cases in which a vet had his chemo program with two sessions unfilled, and another had his entire chemo program refused because his cancer came back. Me, I personally know a retired vet who played hell getting her cancer even looked at because the VA doc assumed that her hysterectomy removed ALL her plumbing and so she couldn’t get cancer there. This should be an improvement.
The list of specialties per the article for which you can get one year authorizations is:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Neurology and Otology
- Otolaryngology or ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Urogynecology
- Addiction Psychiatry Outpatient
- Family and Couples Psychotherapy Outpatient
- Mental Health Outpatient
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Nutrition Intervention Services
- Oncology and Hematology
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Oculoplastic
- Eye Care Examination
- Optometry Routine
- Orthopedic Hand
- Orthopedic General
- Orthopedic Spine
- Pain Management
- Podiatry
- Podiatry DS
- Addiction Medicine Outpatient
- Pulmonary
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry)
- Rheumatology
- Sleep Medicine
- Urology Military.com II
Category: Veterans Issues, Veterans' Affairs Department
We need Elon Musk’s DOGE gurus to raid the VA
I use Tricare Prime and they have the same bullshit with logins. Whoever got that contract is robbing the government blind because it doesn’t work worth a damn.
I use Prime too. I don’t have any complaints about the level care, just the damn logins.
I don’t do VA (for now-that may change in the future…..say….the day before I die).
My biggest gripe is the the log ins for ANY Gooberment (dot gov, dot mil, dot dot….). You go through the trouble and hassle of identifying yourself, VERIFYING yourself, Q & A yourself, making a password that hasn’t been duplicated by yourself within the past 10 years…..FINALLY, after much swearing and raising of blood pressure, all is good.
THEN you’re notified that it’s been 150 days, and you need to change your password.
Lather, rinse, repeat all of the above paragraph.
MYPAY keeps sending me email notifications that they want me to change over from paper tax forms, to e-tax forms. Ummmm…..based on all of the above, not only NO, but HELL NO! I’ll stay with what works for now.
I stopped using that system because of that BS. I would be prompted to do something, I would do it, the next screen would tell me to do something, and I’d be sent back to the START menu. Or I’d be told to provide a photo of my D/L or State ID. I would do so, and would be told; “unable to read because the photo is not clear”. Or “please answer the following question”….and no question would appear.
I finally said fuck it.
As far as I am concerned, the VA is deliberately trying to push veterans out of the system. They changed a system that worked MyHealthEVet, into a clusterF**K with their new log in system. And further using ID Me, a private company, to verify a veterans identity is a slap in the face. ID Me sells your personal information, I’ve had it happen to me. And what happens when ID Me gets hacked, as we all know will eventually happen?
Are they still sponsoring work hour orgies to boost employee morale?