Improve health care for our women veterans
Dear American Legion Family Members and Friends,
March is Women’s History Month. This is a time for us to recognize the women who have served in every war since the American Revolution, as well as make great improvements in the care for women veterans today and in the future.
Today, women are the fastest-growing demographic in the military and veteran community – the number of women veterans is projected to be approximately 2.2 million in 2046. With this, VA must plan now to account for these demographic shifts and ensure that women veterans are provided high-quality care and resources.
Improved health care for women veterans is one of several American Legion legislative priorities for the second session of the 117th Congress. I testified on improved care for women veterans yesterday before joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.
An American Legion legislative victory for the first session of the 117th Congress was the passing of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, which will improve maternal health care for women. Continued improvements in VA’s reproductive care ensures that the needs of women veterans in areas of newborn, maternity and reproductive care are being met through comprehensive health services. This improved care will allow women veterans who seek health care through the VA feel that it is a system built with them in mind.
As we move forward in improved care for women veterans, it is important to advocate for new legislation which fills gaps remaining in care for our women veterans. This means improving mammography services (Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options – MAMMO – for Veterans Act, S. 2533/H.R. 4794), mitigating the cost of contraceptive care, increasing access to child-care services and newborn care at VA medical centers, and studying the need for women-specific drug and alcohol dependency rehabilitation programs (H.R. 344, Women Veterans TRUST Act), as well as others.
This is also includes addressing gender-specific difficulties that affect women veterans, such as not being recognized as a veteran by VA employees, lack of awareness and understanding of VA health-care benefits, and that women veterans being more likely to experience mental health issues and military sexual trauma, as well as chronic pain management and musculoskeletal condition treatment. To address these problems and barriers to care, VA must have care models and standards that are gender-specific and culturally competent.
As women remain the fastest growing veteran demographic, The American Legion will continue to advocate for Congress and VA to meet the unique medical needs of women veterans. A veteran is a veteran, so let’s stand ready to care for and meet the needs of our women veterans and recognize the sacrifices they have made by improving their care.
For God and Country,
Paul E. Dillard
American Legion National Commander