Veterans Health Benefits Seminar

Middleburg Heights Community Center

16000 E. Bagley Road

Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

September 22, 2011

Sponsored by:

Veterans National Advocacy Foundation

1 (800) 810-9025

Copyright 2011 © Veterans National Advocacy Foundation

All Rights Reserved

Veterans Health Benefits Seminar

Middleburg Heights Community Center

September 22, 2011

I.9:00-10:00 Check-in, Registration and Coffee/Donuts

II.10:00 Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation & Opening Remarks

A. Executive Director VNAF

B. Introduction of Speakers

C. Introduction of Congressional Staff Members

III. 10:10Semanthie Brooks - Benjamin Rose, Medicare Part D

A. What is Medicare Part D

1. Premiums

2. Deductible

3. Gap in Coverage – the Donut Hole?

4. Medicaid

5. Are All Prescriptions Covered?

B. Who Qualifies

C. Important Dates

D. Electing/Opting Out

1. Do I have to choose?

2. What if I do nothing?

E. Additional State Programs

F. Will the recent Health Care Law Affect Us (Vet & Spouse)?

IV.10:30 Dr. William Rawlings – VetCenter, Team Leader

  1. Definition and Origin
  2. Programs
  1. PTSD
  2. Substance Abuse
  3. Bereavement
  1. Counseling: Who qualifies
  1. Veteran
  2. Family/Support Structure for Veteran

V.10:50 Jose Salcedo – Administrative Officer, CBOC System

A. How is the VA Health Care System organized?

B. What is a Clinic?

C. What is a Community Based Out-patient Clinic

D. What is a Medical Center?

E. Level of Care

1. Do I have to go to a Specific Clinic?

2. I was told I had to go to a specific clinic – Why?

3. Can I get my prescriptions filled at any clinic?

VI. 11:10 Break

VII. 11:30 James Holmes – Patient Advocate, Louis Stokes VAMC

A. Who do I call when I have an issue with care at the VA?

B. What kind of issues can you resolve?

C. I heard the VA can ban me from a facility – can they?

D. Can I call you to come and help me on the spot – while I am receiving care?

E. Do I have to make an appointment with you?

VIII.11:50 Denise Williams – Chief of Ambulatory Care, Louis Stokes VAMC

A. Why Should I Enroll?

B. How Do I Enroll?

1. DD 214

2. Form 10-10ez

C. Income Levels

1. National

2. Geographic Norm

D. Priority Groups

1. Disability Level

2. Income Level

E. Will I Have To Re-Enroll Each Year?

F. Pension vs Compensation

G. My friend gets reimbursed for travel to appointments – Why?

IX.12:10 Vinka Lasic – Ratings Officer, VA Regional Office

A. What do I need to file a claim?

B. Who can file my claim, can I do it myself?

C. What is a POA?

D. How long does it take?

E. I heard the term ‘preserving my date’ what does that mean?

F. I missed a filing date, what can I do?

G. What if my claim is denied?

X.12:30 Closing Remarks and Thanks

Speakers’ Bios & Contact Info

William J. Rawlings, Ph.D./VHA-CM

Team Leader, Westside Vet Center

5700 Pearl Road, suite 102

Parma, Ohio 44129

440-845-5023 - Phone

440-845-5024 - Fax

Bill joined the Veterans Administration in 2003 with over 25 years of clinical practice in social work. He is currently the Team Leader at the Parma Vet Center. The Vet Center is an outpatient mental health clinic serving combat veterans and their families.

He is a Viet Nam combat veteran having served with the 3/5th Calvary attached to the 9th Infantry Division. He has a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a PhD. His PhD is in counseling for the University of Michigan.

James L. Holmes

Patient Advocate, Patient Experiences

VISN 10 Patient Advocate Coordinator

Wade Park VAMC, CARES Tower, code 118 (W)

Cleveland, OH 44106

Telephone 216-791-3800 extension 1700

Fax: 440-740-2388

After entering naval service in the summer of 1984, he successfully served 21 years of active duty military service as hospital corpsman. His Navy career has been honorably spent performing duties in Naval Hospitals, branch medical clinics, a tour with the Navy Seabees and most notably with the United States Marine Corps.

January 2006, he began working at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. He has worked in various positions within the VAMC and in April, he was appointed as the lead patient advocate for Veterans Integrated Service Network 10, Ohio Veterans Health Care System.

Vinka Lasic
Coach, Quality and Training
Cleveland VA Regional Office

1240 East Ninth St

Cleveland, OH 44199

(216) 522-3600

Jose Salcedo

CBOC Administrative Officer

Louis Stokes VAMC

10701 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-791-3800

Denise Williams

Chief of Ambulatory Care

Louis Stokes VAMC

10701 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-791-3800 ext 5302

Semanthie B. Brooks, ACSW, LISW

Director of Community Advocacy

Benjamin Rose

850 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1100

Cleveland, Ohio 44112

(216) 373-1663

fax (216) 621-3505

Semanthie Brooks, ACSW, LISW has been in a leadership role with Benjamin Rose since September of 1993, serving four years as a Community Office Director, six years as Director of Clinical Operations, and since January 2004 as Director of Community Advocacy.

Semanthie is an advisor and trainer for the new Medicare law. She completed training with the American Society on Aging, the National Committee to Preserve Medicare, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid. She has trained thousands of consumers and professionals about the Medicare prescription drug programs.