Important information for veterans seeking access to needed medical care during the crisis: veterans may request telehealth services from the VA by sending a secure email message via MyHealtheVet or by calling their Primary Care team. Telehealth treatment options include a standard telephone call as well as an app called VA VIDEO Connect, available in both the Apple and Google app stores. My office is also told that veteran use of VA telehealth services has increased by more than 200% in our area. Telehealth care is a safe, effective way that our veterans can see their doctors and receive medical services that don’t require in-person interface.
An important reminder: SSI and VA recipients that have children and that weren’t required to file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 should visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool on IRS.govbefore May 5. By entering their information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they can receive $500 per qualifying dependent child automatically in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. Otherwise, their payment at this time will be $1,200. The additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid with the filing of their 2020 tax returns next year. SSI and VA recipients who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments should receive their automatic payments by mid-May.
More than 120 million payments have already gone out.
President Trump spoke earlier this week about specific steps the Administration is taking to protect America’s seniors. These steps include FEMA deliveries of personal protective equipment to all 15,400 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes in America, more funding for states to boost their inspections of nursing homes, and new rules requiring information about COVID-19 cases in nursing homes to be reported to the CDC and published online. Learn more about how the Trump Administration is working to protect seniors here.
An update for Brunswick County residents: here is the latest status report on the COVID-19 outbreak in the county. The county is regularly updating its Frequently Asked Questions document, which includes information about beach access, food assistance topics, and answers to questions about testing. The county also has this page with detailed information about testing availability in the county.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue spoke recently on how the President’s decision to invoke the Defense Production Act to strengthen our food supply chain will help safeguard our food supply.
For today’s good news story, I’m highlighting Campbell Oil Company, which donated dozens of pizzas delivered to workers at the Bladen County Hospital & Bladen County Health Department on Thursday. It’s a great show of support for our health care professionals who are putting themselves at risk to care for their patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.
