A new agreement signed today between 14 Alaska Native tribal health programs and the department of Veterans Affairs will allow both Alaska Native and non-Native vets to receive health care services in tribal clinics in various parts of Alaska, so they won’t have to travel to Anchorage or Seattle to receive services.
Under the agreement, the VA will reimburse the participating health care entities for the services. Additionally, the Alaska VA is coordinating training sessions for Alaska Tribal Health Programs’ staff on VA benefits and eligibility and enrollment processes to help eligible veterans get into the VA system. Democratic Senator Mark Begich, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has been working on the agreement for three years.
Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
