What is the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)?
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a Federal agency that operates within the United States of America that is responsible for the provision of medical care, assistance, and rehabilitation for veterans no longer classified as ‘active’; however, regardless of the respective retirement of a veteran, the VHA provides a wealth of resources with regard to the establishment of medical resources, procedures, and facilities – in the form of Veterans Hospitals for the undertaking of injured veterans in need of care.
Veterans Health Administration Quick Facts
The following details outline the administration of the Veterans Health Administration:
The Veterans Health Administration is considered to have been founded in tandem with the establishment of the United States’ first veterans’ hospital, which occurred in 1778
The headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration are located in Washington, D.C.
The Secretary of the Veterans Health Administration is Eric Shinseki, who not only served as the Chief of Staff of the United States’ Armed Forces from 1999 to 2003, but who also is a veteran who had engaged in combat in Vietnam
Government Agency of the Executive Branch
Government agencies are defined as organizations, councils, and offices operating under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government of the United States of America; each federal agency retains specific administrative jurisdiction over specific facets latent within the operations of the United States Government.
The Veterans Health Administration functions as a government agency under the Executive Branch of the United States government, which is comprised of 3 total branches; in addition to the Executive branch – which is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of operational legislation existing within the United States of America – there also exists the Legislative and Judicial Branches.
Military Health System vs. Veterans Health Administration
Although both institutions serve to provide means of medical care for individuals in uniform, the primary distinction between the Military Health System and the Veterans Health Administration is the individual status of military service associated with an individual in need of care, as well as the overseeing government agency:
The Military Health System is overseen by the Department of Defense; medical care provided by the Military Health System is limited to individuals whose military service is classified as ‘active’ – this means that the individual serviceperson in in the midst of their term of service
The Veterans Health Administration is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which is responsible for the administration and management of matters concerning individuals who are no longer serving active duty with regard to their military service
Veterans Health Administration Legality
Administrative Law is the legal field associated with events and circumstances in which the Federal Government of the United States engages its citizens, including the administration of government programs, the administration and operation of government agencies, and the establishment of a legal, regulatory federal standard. The Veterans Health Administration exists under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – both institutions can be contacted through the following means:
United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
20420
(800) 827-1000
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