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El Paso VA Care staff outline shutdown contingency, My HealtheVet sign-in changes and tele-town hall
Summary
VA representatives told the City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee the VA is preparing contingency plans for a potential government shutdown, that clinical services and crisis lines will remain available, and that My HealtheVet sign-in is consolidating websites on Jan. 31.
The El Paso VA Care representative briefed the City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 about contingency planning for a potential federal government shutdown and upcoming changes to VA digital services.
Amina Riches, chief for the Center for Development and Civic Engagement, relayed messages from the VA director about preparations in the event of a lapse in appropriations and said the VA is taking steps to minimize disruption to veteran-facing services. "The VA is taking proactive measures to prepare for all scenarios in the event of possible lapse in appropriations and government shutdown to assist veterans and their family members, caregivers, and survivors," Riches said.
Riches told the committee that VA medical centers, Vet Centers, allied clinics and benefits processing (including compensation, pensions, education and housing support) would continue operating and that national cemeteries and the Board of Veterans Appeals would continue processing decisions. She reiterated that the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988) and VA Contact Centers remain available 24/7; in a crisis veterans may also call 988.
Riches also explained changes to My HealtheVet and VA sign-on procedures: several veteran-facing websites are being merged into a single portal, with a secure single sign-on required as of Jan. 31. She said veterans who need assistance can visit the main El Paso VA site (third floor My HealtheVet support) for help creating an ID.me or DS Logon and that failure to complete the new sign-on procedure could affect access to appointment scheduling, pharmacy and medical records.
The El Paso VA recently hosted a "whole health" resource fair and planned a veterans tele-town hall for the evening of Jan. 16 to share director-level updates. Riches provided operational phone numbers for VA Health Connect and said nurses are available 24/7; callers can press 3 for the nurse line, 1 for pharmacy and 2 for scheduling.
Committee members asked clarifying questions and were urged to share the VA's guidance with veterans, including directing veterans to VA.gov/signinchanges for details about the consolidated login process.
No formal action items were taken on this update; staff asked the committee to publicize the tele-town hall and the My HealtheVet assistance options.
