RHINELANDER, Wis. (WXPR) — Ascension Ministry Health Care has partnered with the Veteran’s Administration to offer medical services to veterans who live a certain distance away from federal Veterans care facilities.
Called Veteran’s Choice, the program is for service members who are enrolled in VA health care. It enables veterans to use local health care facilities instead of VA services.
You are eligible if you’ve been waiting more than 30 days for VA medical care or if you live more than 40 miles away from a VA medical care facility and have excessive travel burdens.
Stopping by Ministry St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander Wednesday, Ascension President and CEO Anthony Tersigni says St. Mary’s is the first system within Ascension with Veteran’s Choice. “It’s the first (facility) within Ascension that is treating the Veteran’s Choice Program. What I wanted to do today is come and meet with some veterans and caregivers and find out what is working and what’s not working so as we have constant interaction with the Veteran’s Administration we can make this program better”
More information on the program is available online through the Veteran’s Administration or local County Veteran’s Service offices. Ascension and Ministry Health Care agreed to join in 2012.
by Ken Krall, WXPR