Making VA And Veterans Health Care Partners (NAPSA)—A new Website is rT b at making it easier for veterans to take an active role in staying healthy. The new site, My HealtheVet (MHV), linking veterans with the information they need to better understand, maintain and man- age their health, was launched on Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2003) by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Once fully implemented, the new veteran health portal will offer such interactive tools as a health education library, health assessments, a prescription checker, prescription refill, appointment schedule, co-payment balance, and access to VA health records. Veterans will be able to create their own health journals, keep track of over-the-counter medications, and log health readings, such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. They will also be able to share this information with VA and non- VA health care providers. As the portal is phased in, VA will listen to veterans’ suggestions and feedback on how to makeit more useful. MHVPhase1 features one-stop shopping for VA benefits, special VA health programs and centers, VA forms, news about VA and legislation concerning veterans. A commercial health education library provides up-to-date information about medications and conditions, tools for measuring health status, a prescription checker and the latest health news. A new VA Web site offers veterans easy access to the latest medical information. In Summer 2004, Phase 2 will provide prescription refill, view total co-payment balance, view next scheduled appointment, and self-entered data and health readings. By Winter 2005, MHV Phase 3 will provide veterans with access to their electronic health information. Those veterans wishing to use this feature must be registered at their primary care VA medical center. Veterans can access My HealtheVet on the Internet at www.myhealth.va.gov and register for the information services. Studies show that those who play a more active role in managing their health stay healthier. My HealtheVet intends to help veteransdojust that.
