The Department Of Veterans Affairs To Offer Abortion And Counseling Services To Veterans And

VA will provide abortions when a pregnant veteran’s life or health is at risk, if her pregnancy was full-term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. These services will also be offered to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Health and Medical Policy Program. The department announced those changes to its medical regulations in a news release Friday, saying it filed an interim final rule Thursday night with the Office of the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will go into effect immediately, and the department said it will “immediately prepare to provide these services in as many locations as possible.” “As abortion bans take effect across the country, veterans in many States no longer have assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed,” the VA said in its rule. Abortions when the veteran’s life or health is at risk if she continues the pregnancy will be done “on a case-by-case basis” and with “careful consultation” between the veteran and the VA health care provider, the VA said. For rape or incest abortions, self-reporting by a veteran or VA beneficiary will be “sufficient evidence” — unlike some states that allow exceptions to the rape or incest abortion ban but require it to be reported in law enforcement. The VA will not require a veteran to present “special evidence such as a police report” to qualify for this care. The rulemaking serves as notice that VA employees, including health care professionals, “may not be held liable under state or local law or regulation for the reasonable performance of their federal duties,” the VA said in its rule. Veterans Affairs Minister Dennis McDonough called the change in regulations a “patient safety decision.” “Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most. That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at the VA will give,” he said in a statement Friday. Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Dr. Shereef Elnahal said the department made its decision “after listening to VA health care providers and Veterans across the country, who raised the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency need for those serving.” Once published, the rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. The Biden administration has taken steps to ensure women have some access to abortion and birth control after the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion, though there is no immediate action President Joe Biden can take to restore access to abortion at the national level. Biden signed an executive order in July aimed at ensuring access to life- or health-saving emergency abortions and access to birth control, and another in August aimed at helping women travel out of state to get abortion. The Pentagon said in June that service members and other Defense Department health care beneficiaries would continue to have access to health care for covered abortions.

title: “The Department Of Veterans Affairs To Offer Abortion And Counseling Services To Veterans And Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-27” author: “Irma Worthey”

VA will provide abortions when a pregnant veteran’s life or health is at risk, if her pregnancy was full-term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. These services will also be offered to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Health and Medical Policy Program. The department announced those changes to its medical regulations in a news release Friday, saying it filed an interim final rule Thursday night with the Office of the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will go into effect immediately, and the department said it will “immediately prepare to provide these services in as many locations as possible.” “As abortion bans take effect across the country, veterans in many States no longer have assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed,” the VA said in its rule. Abortions when the veteran’s life or health is at risk if she continues the pregnancy will be done “on a case-by-case basis” and with “careful consultation” between the veteran and the VA health care provider, the VA said. For rape or incest abortions, self-reporting by a veteran or VA beneficiary will be “sufficient evidence” — unlike some states that allow exceptions to the rape or incest abortion ban but require it to be reported in law enforcement. The VA will not require a veteran to present “special evidence such as a police report” to qualify for this care. The rulemaking serves as notice that VA employees, including health care professionals, “may not be held liable under state or local law or regulation for the reasonable performance of their federal duties,” the VA said in its rule. Veterans Affairs Minister Dennis McDonough called the change in regulations a “patient safety decision.” “Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most. That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at the VA will give,” he said in a statement Friday. Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Dr. Shereef Elnahal said the department made its decision “after listening to VA health care providers and Veterans across the country, who raised the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency need for those serving.” Once published, the rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. The Biden administration has taken steps to ensure women have some access to abortion and birth control after the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion, though there is no immediate action President Joe Biden can take to restore access to abortion at the national level. Biden signed an executive order in July aimed at ensuring access to life- or health-saving emergency abortions and access to birth control, and another in August aimed at helping women travel out of state to get abortion. The Pentagon said in June that service members and other Defense Department health care beneficiaries would continue to have access to health care for covered abortions.

title: “The Department Of Veterans Affairs To Offer Abortion And Counseling Services To Veterans And Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-14” author: “Andrea Nadler”

VA will provide abortions when a pregnant veteran’s life or health is at risk, if her pregnancy was full-term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. These services will also be offered to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Health and Medical Policy Program. The department announced those changes to its medical regulations in a news release Friday, saying it filed an interim final rule Thursday night with the Office of the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will go into effect immediately, and the department said it will “immediately prepare to provide these services in as many locations as possible.” “As abortion bans take effect across the country, veterans in many States no longer have assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed,” the VA said in its rule. Abortions when the veteran’s life or health is at risk if she continues the pregnancy will be done “on a case-by-case basis” and with “careful consultation” between the veteran and the VA health care provider, the VA said. For rape or incest abortions, self-reporting by a veteran or VA beneficiary will be “sufficient evidence” — unlike some states that allow exceptions to the rape or incest abortion ban but require it to be reported in law enforcement. The VA will not require a veteran to present “special evidence such as a police report” to qualify for this care. The rulemaking serves as notice that VA employees, including health care professionals, “may not be held liable under state or local law or regulation for the reasonable performance of their federal duties,” the VA said in its rule. Veterans Affairs Minister Dennis McDonough called the change in regulations a “patient safety decision.” “Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most. That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at the VA will give,” he said in a statement Friday. Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Dr. Shereef Elnahal said the department made its decision “after listening to VA health care providers and Veterans across the country, who raised the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency need for those serving.” Once published, the rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. The Biden administration has taken steps to ensure women have some access to abortion and birth control after the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion, though there is no immediate action President Joe Biden can take to restore access to abortion at the national level. Biden signed an executive order in July aimed at ensuring access to life- or health-saving emergency abortions and access to birth control, and another in August aimed at helping women travel out of state to get abortion. The Pentagon said in June that service members and other Defense Department health care beneficiaries would continue to have access to health care for covered abortions.

title: “The Department Of Veterans Affairs To Offer Abortion And Counseling Services To Veterans And Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “William Faison”

VA will provide abortions when a pregnant veteran’s life or health is at risk, if her pregnancy was full-term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. These services will also be offered to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Health and Medical Policy Program. The department announced those changes to its medical regulations in a news release Friday, saying it filed an interim final rule Thursday night with the Office of the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will go into effect immediately, and the department said it will “immediately prepare to provide these services in as many locations as possible.” “As abortion bans take effect across the country, veterans in many States no longer have assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed,” the VA said in its rule. Abortions when the veteran’s life or health is at risk if she continues the pregnancy will be done “on a case-by-case basis” and with “careful consultation” between the veteran and the VA health care provider, the VA said. For rape or incest abortions, self-reporting by a veteran or VA beneficiary will be “sufficient evidence” — unlike some states that allow exceptions to the rape or incest abortion ban but require it to be reported in law enforcement. The VA will not require a veteran to present “special evidence such as a police report” to qualify for this care. The rulemaking serves as notice that VA employees, including health care professionals, “may not be held liable under state or local law or regulation for the reasonable performance of their federal duties,” the VA said in its rule. Veterans Affairs Minister Dennis McDonough called the change in regulations a “patient safety decision.” “Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most. That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at the VA will give,” he said in a statement Friday. Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Dr. Shereef Elnahal said the department made its decision “after listening to VA health care providers and Veterans across the country, who raised the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency need for those serving.” Once published, the rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. The Biden administration has taken steps to ensure women have some access to abortion and birth control after the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion, though there is no immediate action President Joe Biden can take to restore access to abortion at the national level. Biden signed an executive order in July aimed at ensuring access to life- or health-saving emergency abortions and access to birth control, and another in August aimed at helping women travel out of state to get abortion. The Pentagon said in June that service members and other Defense Department health care beneficiaries would continue to have access to health care for covered abortions.