(Courtesy photo)
Jennifer S. Gutowski, MHA, FACHE
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
News Release
HONOLULU -- The VA Health Information Exchange Opt Out Form, VA Form 10-10164, is now available online at www.va.gov or in the Release of Information Office at local VA medical centers. The form must be signed, mailed and/or handcarried to a Veteran's local Release of Information Office. VA Form 10-0484 expired on Sept. 30, 2019; the new form VA 10-10164, will need to be submitted if a Veteran desires not to share health information. Currently, there are no means of submitting the forms electronically.
VA will begin opting all Veterans into health information sharing, beginning January 2020. If you do not want to share your electronic health information (Opt Out), get the form online; however, currently, we are unable to process VA Form 10-10164: https://www.va.gov/VLER/docs/1010164fill.pdf.
Via mail,
- Download and print the VA form 10-10164 (https://www.va.gov/VLER/docs/1010164fill.pdf), so you do not share information (Opt Out).
- Mail it to “Release of Information Office” at your local VAMC.
In Person,
- Visit the Release of Information (ROI) Office at your local VAMC.
- Ask for and complete VA Form 10-10164 (https://www.va.gov/VLER/docs/1010164fill.pdf) to Opt Out.
- Give the form to a member of the Release of Information office staff.
For those who are currently sharing their electronic health information, if at any time you wish to stop sharing your information, visit your local VA medical center’s Release of Information Office and ask for a “stop sharing” form (VA Form 10-0484) or call 1-844-MyVA311 (1-844-698-2311), select "0", and ask for Release of Information (ROI) Office.
VA Form 10-0484 expired Sept. 30, 2019, and the new form VA 10-10164 will need to be submitted. However, if you submitted VA Form 10-0484, before Sept. 30, your preference will remain honored when VA systems start sharing with providers who treat you in January 2020, and no further action is needed by you.
(PLEASE NOTE: Signing up to share your health information with VA may not complete the process in allowing both VA and your Community Provider to exchange your health records. There may be cases in which providers, state laws and/or Community Care Provider(s) require an additional Consent Form in order to exchange information with the VA. Please contact your local Release of Information (ROI) Office and/or local Community Care Provider(s) to confirm whether an additional consent form is needed for your area.)
Commissary and Exchange Privileges
Unlimited exchange and commissary store privileges in the United States are available to honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100 percent, un-remarried surviving spouses of members or retired members of the armed forces, recipients of the Medal of Honor, and their dependents and orphans. Certification of total disability is done by VA. Reservists and their dependents also may be eligible.
Privileges overseas are governed by international law and are available only if agreed upon by the foreign government concerned. Though these benefits are provided by Department of Defense (DoD), VA does provide assistance in completing DD Form 1172, "Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card." For detailed information, contact the nearest military installation.
You can also go to https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/about/feature?feature=va-letters for VA Letters to download and modify VA letters, including Civil Service Preferences, Commissary and Exchange Privileges, Service Benefit Verification and Proof of Service Card.
If you have any further questions, you may call our toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000 and a Veterans Service Representative will be happy to assist you.
VAPIHCS Awards Lease for New Windward Oahu Community Based Outpatient Clinic
I am very pleased to announce that the Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with Castle Health Care System, has awarded a lease to establish a new Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Kaneohe, Oahu.
The Clinic will be located within the Castle Professional Medical Building, in Kaneohe, on the corner of Kahuhipa and Kamehameha Highway. A convenient location for Veterans to access VA health care, and in many cases avoiding the need for them to travel to current VA facilities located at Tripler Army Medical Center.
The CBOC will have primary care, women’s health, mental health and specialty care, as well as have telemedicine capability.
We are thrilled this project is finally underway! The new clinic on the Windward side will provide timely, high-quality VA care to our Veteran patients who have earned that service through their commitment and sacrifice. We are eager to open the doors of the new clinic and anticipate a very smooth transition for our Veterans.
According to the current schedule, renovations will first take place, followed by equipment, furnishings and activation, projected during the Summer 2020.
VA to go smoke free Oct. 1st !
The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System is changing our smoking policy along with all other VA medical centers across the country to further our commitment to provide a safe and healthy environment for Patients, Visitors, Vendors, Volunteers, Contractors and Employees. The policy covers all smoking material including but not limited to:
- Cigarettes,
- Cigars,
- Pipes,
- Any other combustion of tobacco, and
- Non-Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens, or e-cigars.
Since Oct., 2019, smoking is no longer permitted on the VA campus for patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers, vendors and employees. On the Tripler Army Medical Center Campus (TAMC), VAPIHCS follows the TAMC Smoke Free rules.
Patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers, vendors, and employees are strongly encouraged to leave all smoking materials at home. To reduce the risk of ignition near oxygen or other flammable gases used in our facility, some areas may require materials to be stored during their visit.
The VA offers smoking cessation treatment services for Veterans. If you would like more information about smoking cessation, please contact your Primary Care or Mental Health Team.
The VISN 21 Smoking Cessation Program
Services are provided by telephone. No patient travel necessary. TeleQuit provides:
- Smoking cessation medications,
- Patient education, and
- Counseling.
Flu Season is Upon Us for Season 2019-20!
The flu vaccines officially arrived last week! The VAPIHCS is interested in your health and well-being! We do stress the importance of immunity and prevention.
The VA wants you in the “driver’s seat” with your health care! We want to know what “matters most to you”! Screenings and immunizations are part of the preventive aspect of health and healing. The VA’s National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention shared last month about Getting Recommended Vaccines and Screening tests. We are so excited to share that the flu vaccine has arrived! The Honolulu campus already has the vaccine. The community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) will shortly have it (call first). See your primary care team to get your vaccine and get protected, as well as protecting your loved ones!
Free Flu Shots are available at your local Walgreens. Bring your Veteran ID
“One Team, One Ohana”