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VA Urged To Strengthen Alliance With The Indian Health Service

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson is Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. Sen. Johnson recently held a hearing in which the subcommittee scrutinized the relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Specifically, Sen. Johnson was interested in how both organizations can successfully work together to provide Native American veterans with better health care, which includes veterans disability care.

The meeting consisted of various people from assorted backgrounds. Those people were assembled to talk about how to provide the best possible services to Native American veterans given tightened budget constraints.

As both agencies are facing smaller budgets, working together will result in better services being available. This isn't the first time the 2 agencies have come together. The VA and the IHS signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year, which was designed to organize and manage how better health care would be delivered to Native American veterans.

Furthermore, Sen. Johnson's FY2012 spending bill was the only one the Senate approved, which consisted of a $52 million budget to be used exclusively by the VA and the IHS together so as to be able to provide the best possible care for Native American veterans.

Sen. Johnson has been working toward bringing better care to rural environments since the 2009 initiative supporting Native Americans among the recipients of that better care, given their needs measured against their location.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.