Veterans Day is a week away. So, the National Women Veterans United (NWVU) group celebrated contributions and stories of women Veterans. Keynoting their event at the Sgt. Simone A. Robinson Military Women Veteran’s Center was former U.S. Soldier and POW Jessica Lynch.

Eighteen years after she was captured by Iraqi forces on March 23, 2003 — at age 19, becoming the first American prisoner of war and first woman to be rescued since World War II — former U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch still wrestles with post traumatic stress disorder.

Today, the 38-year-old elementary school teacher in West Virginia, who became a household name after the incident four months into the Iraq War, has learned to cope with both the physical and mental scars, just as all Veterans do, she told Veterans here Saturday.

“It’s the courage and the strength we all have inside of us to be able to continue to persevere, to just continue one more day,” said the woman whose April 1, 2003, rescue was filmed and beamed around the world in a keynote before the National Women Veterans United (NWVU) organization, at Sgt. Simone A. Robinson Military Women Veteran’s Center.

“It’s inside of us. But we just have to be able to find and bring it out, because at 19 years old, and just 76 pounds when they rescued me — I didn’t eat, I wasn’t given that — I didn’t think that I was going to make it,” she said. “I really didn’t think that I was going to make it.”

Lynch had been invited to speak at the center in Ashburn, the only Veterans center in Illinois devoted to aiding women in the military — named for a Black soldier who served in the Afghanistan War, killed by an improvised explosive device detonated near her security post.

Many of the women Veterans gathered at the center identified with that post-service trauma as they shared their own stories of service to their country, and resilience in the face of physical injuries or the struggle to break gender and race barriers.

“Just before Jessica came in, we just didn’t have females in those positions. The draft went away in ‘74, and without men to fill those lower ranks, women started coming in. After 9/11 was when they started sending them out into the field, and they were vulnerable,” said Retired Army Col. Constance Edwards, 77, of Frankfort, a Vietnam War Veteran.

Edwards was the third Black woman to reach the rank of Army colonel here in Illinois.

Also attending the event was Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, chair of the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, as well as the Military Economic Development Committee.

“Fourteen years ago, our distinguished guest testified before Congress and exhibited, yet again, her unwavering bravery. Jessica told the nation: ‘I had a story that needed to be told so that people would know the truth,’” said Stratton, referring to Lynch’s historic testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on April 24, 2007.

Lynch unveiled misinformation surrounding her capture and rescue — saying she’d been portrayed as a “little girl Rambo” who fought her captors, when she’d been unconscious.

“Jessica’s commitment to do the right thing every step of the way, to stand for truth and service, is what heroes are made of. Jessica stood up to tell her story, but how many other women Veterans have gone unheard?” said Stratton.

The U.S. Army private with the 507th Maintenance Company had landed on the ground just three days before her convoy was ambushed; 11 members of her unit killed, she and four others taken. Lynch spent nine days in captivity before her rescue by U.S. Special Forces.

“When I came in 1976, the Coast Guard was only accepting five women per month for active duty, and had only started letting them in to the academy in ‘74. A lot of places I served, I was the only woman,” said Brenda Woodfaulk Parker, 65, of Gary, a retired Chief Yeoman for the U.S. Coast Guard.

“I can’t even imagine her waking up and being surrounded by all these men, and the language barrier, being alone. I felt for her, going through that at such a young age.”

Lynch suffered a broken back and legs, enduring numerous surgeries over the years. The recipient of a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and POW medals, she received a medical honorable discharge in August 2003, and authored her biography, “I Am A Soldier, Too,” in late 2003.

“I was fine for the first few years, because I was surrounded by love and support. As time went by, you feel better physically, you feel better mentally. And then it hits you like a ton of bricks: ‘Oh crap, I survived, and my comrades did not,’” Lynch said.

“And it hurts. It physically, mentally hurts. Sometimes it’s not the physical but the inside that hurts the most, and we don’t talk about it. I don’t go public with what I experienced with my PTSD. I never talked about what exactly I felt, what I saw,” she said.

“For instance, every time I was on the interstate, I would almost kind of close my eyes... because whenever someone would pass me, I thought they were going to shoot me.”

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Now that Navy Veteran Miyoko Toy has moved into her apartment, she's looking forward to everything that comes along with having a place of her own.

"I'm excited to have keys," she said. "I'm excited to have a bed. I'm excited to be able to get up from my nap and make myself something to eat. It means everything to me."

Toy is the 1,500th homeless Veteran in Southern California's San Bernardino County to receive housing through the Homeless Veterans Initiative. Launched five years ago, this collaborative effort between the county and local social service organizations identifies homeless Veterans and helps them develop housing plans before getting them moved. For some, they might need prolonged rental assistance, while others need short-term help.

After leaving the Navy, Toy bounced from living situation to living situation. She learned about the San Bernardino County Homeless Veterans Initiative through a women's group for Vets, and earlier this month, moved into an apartment. When she walked through the door, Toy jumped for joy and began clapping, looking around to see her new furniture and cleaning supplies. Now that she's settled, Toy said she is thrilled to have "a place to bring my family home to and share space with them."

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LOS ANGELES – An Inglewood woman and her mother-in-law, who both ran a South Los Angeles drug-and-alcohol abuse treatment program, were sentenced today to federal prison for scheming to defraud Medi-Cal out of over $500,000 for services to clients who did not medically need substance abuse treatment and for services that were never provided.

Mesbel Mohamoud, 48, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, who also sentenced Mohamoud’s mother-in-law, Erlinda Abella, 66, also of Inglewood, to one year and one day in federal prison. Each woman was ordered to pay $260,101 in restitution.

Mohamoud and Abella pleaded guilty in November 2020 to one count of health care fraud.

Mohamoud was the owner and executive director of The New You Center Inc. (TNYC), located in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South Los Angeles. Abella, who co-founded TNYC with Mohamoud in 2005, was the company’s program director. TNYC was authorized to provide medically necessary substance abuse treatment services through the Drug Medi-Cal program to adults and teenagers in Los Angeles County.

From January 2009 to December 2015, TNYC submitted false and fraudulent claims for counseling sessions that were not conducted at all, were not conducted at authorized locations, or did not comply with Drug Medi-Cal regulations regarding the length of sessions or the number of clients.

Mohamoud and Abella also caused TNYC to bill for clients who did not have a substance abuse problem, to falsify documents related to services supposedly provided to clients, and to forge client signatures on documents such as sign-in sheets.

In September 2013, TNYC submitted a fraudulent claim for Medi-Cal reimbursement in the amount of $62.15 for a three-hour counseling session for a client on August 17, 2013 – the same day when the client was hospitalized and did not receive any counseling from TNYC.

In her plea agreement, Mohamoud admitted she knew that Abella directed TNYC counselors to enroll clients in TNYC’s substance abuse treatment program even if the clients had used drugs or alcohol only occasionally or even just once.

TNYC submitted approximately $527,313 in false and fraudulent claims for group and individual substance abuse counseling services and was paid $260,101 on those claims.

The FBI, the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Cathy J. Ostiller of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.

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Government seeks civil forfeiture of five properties and 40 financial accounts and investments

BOSTON – Two women were arrested yesterday and charged in connection with a $100 million home health care fraud scheme. The government also filed a civil action seeking forfeiture of five properties and 40 financial accounts and investments involved in a scheme to launder the ill-gotten gains.  

Faith Newton, 52, of Westford, and Winnie Waruru, 41, of Lowell, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; one count of health care fraud – aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks. Newton was also indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and seven counts of money laundering. In addition, Waruru was indicted on two counts of making false statements and one count of making a false statement in a health care matter. Newton and Waruru were arrested yesterday and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today at 1:30 p.m.            

According to the indictment, from January 2013 to January 2017, Newton was part owner and operator of Arbor Homecare Services LLC. Waruru was a Licensed Practical Nurse employed as a home health nurse at Arbor. It is alleged that Newton and Waruru engaged in a conspiracy to use Arbor to defraud MassHealth and Medicare of at least $100 million by committing health care fraud and paying kickbacks to induce referrals. Newton then allegedly laundered the ill-gotten gains.

Specifically, it is alleged that Arbor, through Newton and others, failed to train staff, billed for home health services that were never provided or were not medically necessary and billed for home health services that were not authorized. Arbor, through Newton and others, developed employment relationships as way to pay kickbacks for patient referrals, regardless of medical necessity requirements. They also entered sham employment relationships with patients’ family members to provide home health aide services that were not medically necessary and routinely billed for fictitious visits that Newton knew did not occur. As alleged in the civil complaint, Newton either directly or through Arbor, targeted particularly vulnerable patients who were low-income, on disability and/or suffering from depression and/or addiction.

According to the indictment, Waruru and Arbor billed MassHealth for Waruru’s skilled nursing visits, many of which she did not perform. Waruru also passed cash payments from Newton to an Arbor patient to retain that patient.

Newton allegedly used the laundered proceeds of the $100 million scheme to purchase multiple homes and a Maserati and to fund investment accounts, a lavish lifestyle and numerous financial transactions. The civil forfeiture case seeks to forfeit to the United States five properties in Westford, North Andover, Chelmsford and Dracut and to forfeit the contents of 40 bank accounts and/or investments.

The charges of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of the money involved in the laundering. The conspiracy to pay kickbacks, make false statements and make false statement in health care matter each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Y. Hemani of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit and David G. Lazarus, Chief of Lelling’s Asset Recovery Unit, are prosecuting the cases.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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BOSTON – A Colorado woman and a Houston woman were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their roles in a multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud scheme.

Jessica Jones, 32, of Lakewood Colo., and Elizabeth Putulin, 31, of Houston, Texas were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to three years of supervised release, the first year to be served in home detention. Judge O’Toole, Jr. also ordered Jones to pay restitution in the amount of $8.6 million and ordered Putulin to pay restitution in the amount of $20.7 million. Jones and Putulin are also barred from engaging in an occupation business in the health care industry. On Jan. 20, 2021, Jones and Putulin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Jones and Putulin conspired with Juan Camilo Perez Buitrago to submit more than $107.6 million in false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces. Jones and Putulin helped Perez manufacture and submit false and fraudulent Medicare claims by establishing shell companies in more than a dozen different states, including Massachusetts. At Perez’s request, Jones and Putulin purchased Medicare patient data from foreign and domestic call centers that targeted elderly patients and instructed call centers to contact the Medicare beneficiaries with an offer of ankle, arm, back, knee and/or shoulder braces “at little to no cost.” Perez then submitted Medicare claims for those patients without obtaining a prescriber’s order to ensure that the braces were medically necessary. Jones and Putulin further facilitated the fraud by answering frequent phone calls from Medicare patients who received DME that they did not request, want or need. Additionally, Jones and Putulin responded to insurance companies’ requests for prescriber’s orders and medical records, which they were unable to provide.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Ketty Larco Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Rollins’ Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

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Focusing on wellness, not illness

What matters most to you? On the pathway to Whole Health, this is the defining question. Whole Health is about treating you, the person. We want to consider the big picture of your life, not just one symptom or challenge.

That’s why we’re encouraging women Veterans to ask themselves this question and take the first step in making health a priority. VA helps women take control of their health and build positive habits for life. By identifying what’s important, you can choose care that fits with your health and well-being priorities.

You don’t have to wait until something is wrong to focus on your well-being. Just ask Patty. After 28 years in the Air National Guard, Patty describes transitioning to civilian life and starting a new job at a VA medical center as “a little scary” and “anxiety provoking.”

“This is really an awesome benefit”

Then she learned about Whole Health. Even though she wasn’t experiencing any big health issues, she attended a Whole Health peer-led group. During a follow-up call, a Whole Health coach strongly encouraged her to meet with a provider.

“I thought, well, I’m going to get someone who isn’t familiar with what I was going to want in the civilian sector.” But to her surprise, “They were fantastic. This is really an awesome benefit for all Veterans.” Having experienced the impact of Whole Health as a Veteran and VA employee, she sees the positive impact it is having on both groups.

Each of us has the power to impact our well-being. Whole Health offers the skills and support you need to make the changes you want. It may include self-care strategies and complementary therapies such as meditation, massage, and yoga, along with your conventional medical care.

Self-care is not something you have to figure out on your own

In the Whole Health approach, you can look at all areas of your life, including areas of strength and aspects where support could be helpful to you. These areas of self-care include:

• Mindful Awareness – Being aware of thoughts and feelings to focus on the present.
• Moving the Body – Exercising and moving for energy, flexibility, and strength.
• Surroundings – Having comfortable, healthy spaces that support your body and emotions.
• Personal Development – Moving toward what matters most to you.
• Food and Drink – Nourishing your body to not only live, but to live well.
• Recharge – Getting enough sleep, rest, relaxation.
• Family, friends, and coworkers – Developing close, loving, supportive relationships with others.
• Spirit and Soul – Cultivating a sense of connection, purpose, and meaning.
• Power of the Mind – Tapping into your ability to heal and cope through mind-body approaches.

Start your Whole Health journey by exploring the Circle of Health to find self-care resources that match your needs: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/index.asp

To learn more about Whole Health self care, watch VA’s #LiveWholeHealth guided meditation videos.

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today 13 VA employees received the 2020 G2Xchange Leading for Impact, Women in Leadership Award.

They are recognized for guiding, mentoring and driving their industry through impactful leadership.

These women are integral to the successes in all facets of the many programs and operations benefitting the health and wellbeing of America’s Veterans.

They have been and will continue to be a force in effectively communicating and implementing VA’s mission while at the helm in their positions.

“VA supports women and women Veterans serving at all levels in the department,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke. “Women employees at VA are positively impacting the care and services Veterans receive each day in such areas as benefits, customer experience, health, innovation, technology and small business.”

Under the leadership of women at VA these are among some of the notable achievements that have been realized:

Benefits – The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) gives Veterans choice, clarity and control of their appeals and claims. The AMA is the first major reform to the VA appeals system in at least three decades.

Recognizing a gap in service regarding Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) hearings, the Board’s collaboration across the enterprise leveraged existing technologies to create virtual tele-hearings. This led to President Trump signing the Virtual Tele-Hearing Modernization Act — making virtual tele-hearings a permanent option for Veterans.

Customer Service – The Veterans Experience Office (VEO) understands the journey of Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors, and VEO staff recognizes the specialized needs and experiences of these customers when they interact with VA in person, by phone or online. VEO has the ability to translate those insights into tangible tools and products to empower employees at all levels to deliver the best customer experiences possible.

Health – The MISSION Act is a permanent program allowing Veterans to get their health care in the community. Women VA leaders played a prominent role ensuring best practices were shared on how VA had to adjust to implement the new law. They created training protocols to make sure VA staff were ready to help deliver this new health benefit to Veterans.

The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) highlights suicide prevention training with specific sessions on PTSD and how-to tailor decisions for a Veteran or family member who may be grieving. A main program developed under PREVENTS is the REACH campaign which strives to reduce Veteran suicide.

Innovation – Innovations in 3D printing across VA have led to advancements in surgery, prosthetics and the treatment of chronic illnesses. 3D printing enables VA’s medical providers to customize and tailor solutions specifically meeting individual patient needs, putting the Veteran at the center of their treatment plan. VA is the first integrated health care system in the country to establish a national 3D Printing network allowing its health care staff to share ideas, resources and best practices to deliver quality care to patients throughout its enterprise. In March, VA activated its 3D printing network to test 3D designs of medical equipment used by the nation’s health care providers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Messaging – VA’s national media relations team ensures the focus of all messaging clearly reflects how the department’s programs and operations benefit and definitively impact the lives of the Veterans it serves. When preparing items for publication as news releases, internal and external stories, event campaigns, communications plans and opinion-editorials — the team ensures they are Veteran centric — aligned with the core of the department’s motto.

Technology – VA’s information technology and digital modernization project has resulted in successful service-delivery to 12 million Veterans and family members who depend on VA for health care and benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic — timely, clear, strategic communication and providing additional equipment to those serving Veterans, their families and their caregivers — has resulted in the seamless transition of more than 300,000 VA workers and contractors to remote telework status so they can continue working on behalf of Veterans regardless of location.

The creation of a Cyber Training Academy keeps VA employees apprised of the latest technology for protecting Veterans’ private and sensitive information.

VA telehealth technologies make it easier for Veterans to connect with their VA care team. VA Telehealth Services is transforming how Veterans access care, whether from their home, a clinic or the hospital — enabling them to access care when and where they need it.

Strategic partnering with the Department of Defense on the enterprise-wide adoption of the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support application and the Defense Logistics Agency’s Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program is modernizing VA’s supply chain and enables the department’s contracting and logistician workforce to acquire products for the clinicians who care for Veterans’ health and well-being.

VA’s enterprise integration has been instrumental in developing the electronic health record modernization, along with financial management and business transformation.

Small Business – To improve Women-Owned Small Businesses participation and procurement opportunities, the Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiatives, a new program and first of its kind in the federal government was established in support of women Veteran entrepreneurs in the federal and commercial marketplace. The initiative enables access to economic and procurement learning opportunities, offers chances to increase business sustainability and hosts events throughout the year preparing women Veteran business owners to become procurement ready.

Women Veterans – The Center for Women Veterans has successfully built upon its partnerships particularly the creation of #BringWomenVeteransHome2VA aimed at reaching the most remote women Veterans. It has helped them learn about and connect with VA services such as Telehealth, the Women Veterans Call Center and Veterans Crisis Hotline, and how to enroll in VA to get assistance on Military Sexual Trauma care.

As VA works to improve the care and services for all Veterans, the VA women receiving the 2020 G2Xchange Leading for Impact, Women in Leadership Award highlights the importance of their leading the way in the workplace and demonstrating what women, VA women and women Veterans can and do bring to the work arena.

To see the entire list of winners click here.

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Depression, isolation, loneliness and loss of purpose are common struggles among those transitioning from military to civilian life. Many also face challenges with applying for a civilian job for the first time or reentering the workforce.

However, women Veterans may also encounter gender pay gaps, bias against mothers, financial instability, gender-related health concerns, stereotypes about female soldiers, and stress caused by military sexual trauma. Add to these obstacles the frequent lack of a trusted peer network, and one thing is clear: Transitioning to life outside the military can be particularly hard for women Veterans.

“I lost a part of myself when I left the military. I expected motherhood to fill the mission and purpose I had felt while in the military,” said Air Force Veteran and military spouse Amanda Huffman. “But instead, I found it challenging and that I wasn’t doing enough. Part of it was the challenge of being a new mom. But I also needed something for me besides raising my kids.”

Huffman served for six years as a civil engineer, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Like many female Veterans, she struggled with transitioning from purpose-driven military service to finding where and how she belonged as a civilian. This led to frustration, anxiety and disappointment in the lack of resources tailored to women like her.

“I felt so alone when I was transitioning,” Huffman said. “I thought my experience was so different from everyone else’s (getting out to be a stay-at-home mom) that I did not have anyone to talk to. I felt that I wouldn’t be able to relate to other Veterans because my situation was so different.”

Whether a woman transitions into parenting, a civilian career or both, it is common to feel confused, left behind and disconnected. Huffman eventually found a new purpose and sense of community by creating some of the very resources she lacked during her own transition. However, she didn’t stop there — Huffman also created resources for those joining and currently serving in the armed forces.

Here are a few ways Huffman strives to help women who serve or have served in the military:

The Airman to Mom blog

The Airman to Mom blog shares details about Huffman’s experiences in the military, leading a dual military life and eventually transitioning to civilian living and motherhood. The blog also provides links to many of Huffman’s other free resources, including a deployment guide, a PCS moving guide and transition resources.

The Women of the Military podcast

Huffman’s Women of the Military podcast shares interviews and stories about women who have served in the military over the last several decades. By offering an in-depth look at what other military women have experienced, the podcast aims to provide inspiration and community to current and former female soldiers. Likewise, the podcast offers advice for women as they face challenges during and after service.

“What I have found through talking to Veterans is that even if our path after the military is different, many of the emotional challenges are the same. It is through the Veteran community that I realized I wasn’t so different after all.”

The Women of the Military eBook

The Women of the Military eBook features 28 stories about military women. The interviews in Huffman’s book illustrate how women have journeyed over the years from more traditionally female jobs like nursing to serving in combat positions.

“I did not know about all the things women were doing in the military until I started interviewing them,” Huffman said. “And even today, with over 200 interviews completed, I still learn more about women and their history in the military.”

Girl’s Guide to the Military

Huffman’s Girl’s Guide to the Military offers both insight and advice for women who are entering the military or currently serving. Huffman also plans to publish an expanded edition of the guide in September 2022.

“I have expanded that guide into a book A Girl’s Guide to Military Service, publishing September 13th,” she said. “It is meant to answer all the questions, starting with, is the military right for me to what branch, career field, etc., along with topics like military sexual trauma, deployment, relationships, motherhood and more. I want to ensure girls joining the military have as much information as possible to help them make informed choices.”

The Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Determined to do the best she can for the women she aims to help, Huffman created the Women of the Military Mentorship Program. Her goal is to provide one-on-one connections for women interested in joining the military, women who are currently serving and female Vets. The mentorship program aims to connect women with others who have shared similar experiences and challenges, offering valuable support and guidance.

Finding support and fellowship can be key to fulfillment during military service and eventually a successful return to civilian living.

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Your provider can create an individualized pain management plan

VA Women’s Health encourages women Veterans to talk to their VA provider about their chronic pain. You can work with your provider to create an individualized pain management plan that incorporates mental and physical health strategies that allow you to get back to doing the things you love.

Chronic pain is a lingering pain that interferes with women Veterans’ daily lives. As many as 75% of women Veterans accessing VA care experience chronic pain. Migraine and back pain are two of the top service-connected conditions for women Veterans. Many also experience chronic neck pain, pelvic pain, arthritis, joint problems, and fibromyalgia, among others.

Women Veterans may experience more barriers to seeking care for chronic pain, including stigma, lack of social support, higher levels of responsibility for home and child-care duties, and limited transportation. Women frequently see their provider with multiple co-occurring pain conditions, and pain of unclear etiology, which can make diagnosis and treatment challenging.

High rates of trauma in women with pain can make them reluctant to ask for specialty care and many feel as if specialists, who predominantly treat men, are not equipped to care for them. Because women with pain are at risk of having their pain written off as psychological, they can feel stigmatized and distrustful of the system.

Not always curable, but manageable

Limited social support and the stress of juggling home, dependent care, and employment or education demands can make it hard to prioritize pain self-management or appointments.

Although chronic pain is often not fully curable, with help, support, and an optimal care plan, you can learn to better manage your pain, so you have more time and energy for the things you love.

Work with your VA primary care provider to determine what combination of pain management therapies best fit your individual circumstances and needs.

In addition to comprehensive primary care and women’s health services, VA has many resources to help women Veterans learn about available chronic pain services.

Links to chronic pain services

• VA Women’s Health – Chronic Pain: Information and resources to help Veterans learn about the wide range of chronic pain symptoms and management options VA offers women Veterans.
• VA Women’s Health – Chronic Pelvic Pain: Information and resources to help women Veterans learn about chronic pelvic pain and the treatment options available at VA.
• VHA Directive 1137: Directive allowing VA to offer Veterans massage as a treatment.
• She Wears the Boots – Chronic Pain in Women Veterans: Podcast discussing chronic pain specifically in women Veterans and the treatment options available at VA.
• She Wears the Boots – The Importance of Pelvic Health: Podcast episode discussing pelvic health in women Veterans and treatment options as well as potential causes of pelvic pain.
• VA Whole Health: Information and resources to help Veterans implement integrated health practices like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, which can help Veterans manage their chronic pain.
• VA News – Chronic Pain: Archive of feature stories about chronic pain and the wide array of treatments available at VA, includes articles on cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, acupuncture, physical therapy, and more.

If you have chronic pain, speak with your VA health care provider to make a personalized chronic pain management plan. You can also call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-829-6636.

For more information on health care services for women Veterans, visit: https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/.

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