by Michael Blais
“PCVRS has nearly 350 locations across Canada” (CREDIT: RICHARD LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHY)
TO BE BLUNTLY honest, Canada’s health system is woefully underfunded and overburdened. We presently have numerical deficiencies in; doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and the vast network of supporting health professionals is frankly, obscene. As a consequence, disabled veterans must overcome the same barriers as thousands of other Canadians who are experiencing great frustration when attempting to secure a family doctor or adequate medical care.
Without a doubt, this adverse situation has been severely intensified by the prolonged impact which the COVID pandemic has inflicted upon the provincial & territorial medical services. Not to mention the ever increasing needs of the general population.
Veterans seeking assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) are often caught in a vicious vortex.
On one level, they must cope with the department’s arduous bureaucratic procedures in order to successfully process their application. (Problems with adjudication continue to plague the department and despite efforts to reduce backlogs, wait times for initial outreach judgments are still averaging over 40 weeks). Hundreds, if not thousands of veterans do not have a family doctor to facilitate the documentary process. Further delays are invariably incurred when the individual is unable to secure expedient assistance from pain or mental trauma specialists.
VAC does not provide direct care: There are no VAC doctors or mental health professionals to ensure expedient services are available.
The consequences of this have been profound, particularly for individuals participating with VAC’s Vocational Assistance Program or those seeking rehabilitation services. Acknowledging this situation, the department has made significant changes to the program in order to improve the service delivery standards. Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Service (PCVRS), an alliance organization created by the Lifemark Health Group and WCG International, have been contracted to manage the program.
Both of these organizations specialize in vocational rehabilitation. Approximately 14,000 veterans who are currently participating in VAC’s vocational, medical and/ or psycho-social rehabilitation programs will be affected. Client migration to the new program will commence this December and everybody is expected to be transferred by June of 2023. VAC has allocated over half-a-billion dollars towards upgrading this rehabilitation pro- gram, so let us hope it proves effective in streamlining the process and establishing better standards.
How exactly does it work? PCVRS has nearly 350 locations across Canada. These locations are augmented by 263 service delivery partner locations encompassing all provinces and territories. Each of these site’s fields a cadre of rehabilitation service professionals which, in theory, should provide expedient care while concurrently reducing the levels of stress associated with attaining the trauma specific health care professionals to successfully fulfill VAC’s bureaucratic requirements.
The VAC Case Manager remains the veteran’s primary point of contact. Once the veteran has been assigned a PCVRS Rehabilitation Service Specialist (RSS), they will collectively design a comprehensive program that will guide the individual through the rehab process and ultimately, as envisioned, foster a successful transition to a civilian labour environment. The RSS will be responsible for the program’s administration and the veteran’s treatment plans. Eligibility requisites for VACs Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program will not change.
Naturally, there are some questions that have yet to be addressed. What if the veteran is currently happy with their rehabilitation program and does not want to change venues or participate in the new program? Will they be forced to comply?
What if there are disagreements between the Rehabilitation Services Specialist, their Case Manager or the individual themself? Is there a resolution process that will best serve the veteran? If dissatisfied with the service, will the veteran be allowed to seek; another provider, another RSS, or another case manager? What level of military cultural-competency training will the RSS’s receive? Needless to say, we shall be monitoring these program changes, with our usual due diligence.
Indexing and the Lump Sum Award. I trust that veterans understand the amount of the Lump Sum Award is based on the current year’s rate. Be advised there will be substantial increase in the indexing rate applied in 2023. Veterans who have successfully processed their application but have yet to decide on the Pension for Life or the Lump Sum Award should wait until after January 1, 2023, if you considering the latter. At this time, a remarkable 6.5 % indexing factor will be applied to the 2023 rates. This will increase 2022 payment (100% disability) by 25 K. (It will increase from $395,874 to $420,814).
If you have any questions about indexing and how it affects your individual file, contact VAC through your My VAC account or at 1-866- 522-2122.