Latest news with #AmericanVeterans
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
VA To Examine Health Payments To Veterans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing. The VA said on Tuesday that the agencies had identified $106 million spent on duplicate billings over the past six years for veterans enrolled in both VA health care and Medicare. It added that it will start to send bills to overpaid providers to recover the money from this month. Newsweek contacted VA and CMS for comment via email outside of regular working hours. Stock image. The VA has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing for veterans. Stock image. The VA has announced a new partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aimed at eliminating duplicate health care billing for veterans. dangutsu/Getty Images Why It Matters Federal officials said the recovery effort will both recoup taxpayer funds and help redirect resources towards veterans and Medicare benefits. Officials also said that the partnership will reduce waste and redundant paperwork. What To Know Approximately 5.9 million veterans are enrolled in both VA health care and Medicare, both of which pay for a variety of medical care from third-party providers. Until now, there was no centralized system in place to prevent double billing, which enabled overpayments to go unnoticed. The agencies have now established a data-matching agreement to spot when medical providers submit claims for payment to both VA and Medicare, aiming to prevent future overlapping claims. In addition to payment reforms, the VA announced on Tuesday that it had awarded more than $2 million in new grants to seven educational and research organizations as part of the Veterans Legacy Program. These grants aim to memorialize veterans through documentaries, digital storytelling, and educational projects that focus on veterans' contributions. What People Are Saying VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement: "We are proud to implement this commonsense reform, which should have been instituted years ago but is only happening now under the leadership of President Trump. The money we save as a result of this effort will be much better spent helping VA and Medicare beneficiaries get the benefits they've earned." CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said: "For too long, government programs have operated in silos, enabling improper payments to slip through the cracks at the expense of taxpayers. Under President Trump's leadership, CMS is proud to partner with the VA to root out duplicate billing, recover taxpayer funds, and reduce redundant paperwork and waste so American Veterans and seniors receive the care they deserve." What Happens Next The VA and CMS plan to recover improper payments from providers has already begun.
Sky News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Two security workers injured after grenades thrown at aid site, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says
Two American security workers in Gaza were injured after grenades were thrown during food distribution in Khan Younis, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has said. In a statement, the US and Israeli -backed aid group said a targeted terrorist attack was carried out at one of its sites in southern Gaza on Saturday morning. The two Americans injured "are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition," it said, adding that the delivery of aid was "otherwise successful" and that "no local aid workers or civilians were harmed". GHF didn't say exactly when the incident happened but claimed Hamas was behind the attack, adding: "GHF has repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas, including explicit plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and the civilians who rely on our sites for food. "Today's attack tragically affirms those warnings." Later, the aid group posted a picture on social media, which it said showed "fragments of a grenade packed with ball bearings" that was used in the attack. Asked by Sky's US partner network, NBC News, whether the two injured individuals were responsible for handing out aid or were responsible for providing security, GHF said they were "American security workers" and "two American veterans." The aid group did not provide specific evidence that Hamas was behind the attack. The US and Israeli-backed group has been primarily responsible for aid distribution since Israel lifted its 11-week blockade of the Gaza Strip in May. It comes after Sky News analysis showed GHF aid distributions are associated with a significant increase in deaths in Gaza. According to Gaza's health ministry, 600 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid from GHF sites as of 3 July, which charities and the UN have branded "death traps". Meanwhile, the Associated Press has reported that Israeli-backed American contractors guarding GHF aid centres in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades. 1:34 GHF has vehemently denied the accusations, adding that it investigated AP's allegations and found them to be "categorically false". Israel's military added that it fires only warning shots and is investigating reports of civilian harm. It denies deliberately shooting at any innocent civilians and says it's examining how to reduce "friction with the population" in the areas surrounding the distribution centres.
Fox News
06-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Boston mayor under fire for comparing ICE agents to ‘neo-Nazi' group
All times eastern FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage WATCH LIVE: American and allied veterans honored at D-Day ceremony at Utah Beach
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather at Memorial Day services in Grand Forks to remember 'high price of freedom'
May 26—GRAND FORKS — Hundreds gathered for Memorial Day events in Grand Forks on Monday, May 26, to remember those who have given their lives in service to the country. On a sunny day with hardly any breeze — a stark contrast to the rainy weather that played havoc on events in 2024 — the crowds honored the fallen men and women during events that included Honor Guard salutes, speeches, music and readings. "It's not about the veterans who are living, but the ones who have passed," emcee Bobby Beauchamp said after the VFW/Disabled American Veterans event at Memorial Park Cemetery South late Monday morning. "That's what we don't want to forget." The first of the two events was the American Legion Post 6 service at Memorial Park North Cemetery. Col. Timothy Monroe, commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, addressed a crowd of more than 200 people. He implored attendees to remember the true meaning behind Memorial Day. "It is about courage, it is about sacrifice and it most certainly is about remembering the high price of freedom," Monroe said. Every headstone tells a story, and every name represents a life cut short, he said. It is the duty of those who still live to ensure these stories are not forgotten and the gift of freedom is never lost, he said. Organized by the Grand Forks American Legion Post 6, the morning ceremony featured performances by the Grand Forks City Band, Post 6 Color Guard and Grand Forks Air Force Base Color Guard. Taps and Echo was performed by Joel Ness and Sandra Iverson, while Post 6 Vice-Commander Chris Davis served as emcee. A firing squad salute was carried out by the Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard. There were a number of readings and prayers shared throughout the event and wreaths were presented in honor of all who have died in their respective lines of service. Jenny Jansen, attending the Post 6 ceremony in support of her sister — who is a member of the Air Force — said she was struck by Monroe's speech. "Every word is true," she said. "(The people who fought) need to be honored. Every country should have a day like this, so that people think about what (others) did for them." Jansen recalled how the U.S. has helped protect Europeans in the past, and said she hopes for continued support during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "The Ukrainian war is giving us a lot of fear," Jansen said. "Everybody hopes that America and Europe will still be a unit, that they will not go away and that they still care for Europe. This is my prayer — that Americans and Europeans will stick together." Jansen said she felt blessed to be at the ceremony, tearfully recalling her father, who she said served in the Vietnam and Korean wars. Jansen was born in Germany, and still lives there with her husband, but her father was an American and she considers the United States to be her home as well. "It's the land of the free," she said. Later Monday morning, at the VFW/Disabled American Veterans event at Memorial Park Cemetery South, keynote speaker Joel Medd spoke about his experiences with the Honor Flight program, which provides complimentary flights for veterans from the region to see veterans-related sites in Washington, D.C. "When we got home, many of you perhaps were there at the airport to welcome us home. There was a band, flags waving, and many of you were there. As we came down the escalator, many of us had tears in our eyes, including myself," Medd said of the flight's return to Grand Forks. "Many of us Vietnam veterans didn't get a welcome home." That event in Grand Forks, Medd said, thus became that missing welcome home. Beauchamp, a past state commander of the DAV, said he enjoyed handling the emcee duties at the VFW/DAV ceremony, which drew more than 150 attendees. "We couldn't have ordered a better day. The crowd was very uplifting for this solemn occasion," Beauchamp said after the event concluded. "I just really enjoy taking part in this type of occasion. It's what we all live for. For people to show up, that's what it's all about." Last year, the American Legion event was canceled due to rain, while the VFW/DAV event was moved indoors and shortened.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DAV adds parking spot to county lot to improve services
EBENSBURG, Pa. – Disabled American Veterans now has a permanent parking spot at the Cambria County Human Services building parking lot on Candlelight Drive that officials said Thursday will help improve services. 'It just cuts down on so much time,' said John Clay, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center chief of the center for development and civic engagement. Elected officials and representatives from the VA gathered at the new spot at the lower end of the lot in Ebensburg to celebrate the new partnership. Clay said one DAV vehicle will remain in Ebensburg and the other will stay at the VA Clinic on Galleria Drive in Richland Township. This will cut down on the six drivers' travel time when helping veterans get to appointments both in Cambria and Blair counties and other engagements, he added. DAV drivers are volunteers who pick up and drop off veterans as a free service to those who served the country through the military. Clay said partnering with the county and making a vehicle for use at a location easily accessible just made sense. Commissioner Keith Rager, who helped to coordinate this partnership, is also really excited about the prospects of the relationship. 'We're just trying to do our part to help veterans,' Rager said. During Thursday's event, Clay took the opportunity to note DAV needs more drivers. Bob Skyrock, a volunteer who started in March, said lending his time to the organization has been rewarding. He noted that the vehicle parked in Ebensburg will be a lot of help. At this time, the service runs Tuesday through Thursday. For information on how to volunteer, call 814-943-8164, Ext. 17141. For veterans interested in utilizing the service, use Ext. 17383.
