Secretary of Veterans Affairs Visits Sheridan VA

During the last week of February, Denis McDonough United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Biden since 2021, visited the staff and veterans at the Sheridan VA Medical Center. On Feb. 29, there was a news conference with McDonough.

He said they had a great visit here at the VA Medical Center. He added that he was

He said he also stopped by the Wyoming Museum of Military vehicles, and he met with veterans who are,

“I see that very clearly here in Wyoming.”

Cherish Thomson Public Affairs Specialist at Sheridan VA, said that the Secretary has visited Cheyenne, but this is first time he has visited Sheridan and many of the rural Wyoming hospitals.

One question from the floor was what was being done to help veterans transition to civilian life. McDonough said that in Wyoming they estimate there are about 48,000 veterans, and about 25,000 are enrolled in the VA. The National VA and the state of Wyoming believe that veterans who receive their care from the VA have better outcomes over time. There is a lower rate of suicide among veterans who receive VA compensation benefits. He added that every veteran deserves benefits from the VA.

Sunaina Kumar-Giebel, VISN 19 Rocky Mountain Network Director Pam Crowell, Sheridan VA Health Care System Director with Denis McDonough.

He said there are services available for transitioning servicemen. They want veterans to take advantage of these services. “That’s why it’s so important to develop relationships with these veterans.”

McDonough answered a question about the PACT Act which is a law that expands VA health care and benefits to those veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

He said of the claims received, they are awarding those claims at 75%. In Wyoming they have had 3524 claims filed under the Pact Act.

He said the number of new enrollees in the VA last year has increased by 30%, at least partly due to the Pact Act.

One question asked was what the challenges of the VA in rural areas were, he said that one was travel, especially here in Wyoming. They are making more telehealth options available as well as out-patient clinics closer to the veterans, as well as partnering with the local community providers to increase access for our rural veterans.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough speaks with Air Force Veteran Gary McComas, during a visit to the Sheridan VA Medical Center Feb. 29, 2024. McComas expressed enthusiasm at the opportunity and was especially excited when he received a Secretary of Veterans Affairs challenge coin from McDonough, commenting afterward “this is something I’ll cherish forever.” McDonough had spent the morning meeting with Veterans and staff of the medical center, as part of a multi-day tour of VA facilities in Wyoming. (Official VA photo by Elaine Buehler.)

He said they also want to make sure that they are providing a high level of care, so the veterans tell others that the VA is a good place for health care.

One question was about Native American Veterans, one thing that he said was that Native American Veterans will not be charged a co-pay at the VA. McDonough added that they are also trying to increase our access points for Native American Veterans.

When asked what the VA was doing to help veterans in crisis, and the Veteran’s crisis line, for veterans who may be considering suicide, the number, is 988, followed by the number one. He ended with, “Veteran’s, you are not alone. We are here for our veterans.”