DES MOINES, Iowa — In 2022, the federal government passed the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT Act, which expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, agent orange and other toxic elements.
Leaders with the VA Central Iowa Health Care System think the law has led to an increase in enrollment.
"We are seeing a lot of Vietnam veterans who were affected by that who were at one time not eligible, but now they are," said Roxanne Swanson, VA Central Iowa’s enrollment eligibility manager and outreach coordinator.
She said the PACT Act now gives generations of toxic-exposed veterans the health care they've earned and deserve.
"When they do come in, they are so excited when they realize that they are eligible now and it's phenomenal," Swanson said. "It's a great feeling when you can shake a veteran’s hand and say, 'Thank you for your service and welcome to the VA.'"
Nationally, 401,006 veterans enrolled in VA health care in the last year, 30% more than the 307,831 enrolled the previous year.
In 2023, 806 veterans enrolled in the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, compared to 495 in 2022.
"I always find that to be super exciting, that we are getting people that actually trust us enough to come and get all their care here," Swanson said.
And trust is high at VA Central Iowa, with the most recent patient survey results show a 91.9% trust rating.
"We do know, 91.9 is great, but we're always striving for 100 and so that's something our team, we celebrate the wins but we're always looking forward to get to that goal of 100%," said McKenzie Bahl, VA Central Iowa’s veteran experience coordinator.
She said trust and transparency are key to the overall hospital experience.
"One opportunity I think we do have here at the hospital is to find better ways to communicate what it is we're working on actively," Bahl said.
With enrollment increasing, Bahl sees an opportunity to continue providing exceptional care to veterans.
"I think it reinforces that what we're doing, we're on the right path, veterans are wanting to come and see us," she said.
Nationally, the VA’s enrollment numbers are the highest in at least five years and a nearly 50% percent increase over pandemic-level enrollment in 2020.