[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6628855,"mediaKeyId","2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657","parentId",2714015,"title","El Paso VA interim director says wait times down to 11 days, stresses registration and community-care coordination","audioSeconds",1271,"startMs",732000,"endMs",2003000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657&start=732&end=2003","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657/thumbnail_732000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6628855/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/El-Paso-VA-interim-director-says-wait-times-down-to-11-days-stresses-registration-and-community-care-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628855-85a3baba2d5687c809c897d92b1f299f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207974&Signature=bAqFXYs4HzDBNJNA97MdJKAGLCWIRGsZKHBkV1rYGR7qOpFr9QC2oJF6HoU8I-yUeM3vd3BD-V2XxvoVizoq11D0EVToaADBahN~QIlcUjVp45n5iK0qdSZEjtUghGN3vAA9LWdqOmi~v0gWAqYFfpaFAQLeOBl6JzeZBIyot0GCun34wiJjF7lFrdAXFu6m1VgDjhFEXDUGFkQsoi1SFnkklwzo2bCrkixJ69pIkb77zBbcmkj7lX3WwnFqJSnK1Xna4WMuOe5ji-lkrF6WVERC~1w7jRlXKUjNzlNl~wDXifRhZ8jLn6vNiiPPlQHvflFZfIto7S2HnXKtDcg72g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of El Paso TX","date","2025-03-20T17:35:00.38Z","article","Mark Riello, interim director at the El Paso VA, told the El Paso City Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee that primary care wait times for new patients at the main Piedras facility have dropped to about 11 days and that the system continues to offer same-day access for urgent needs.

Riello said the VA has not cut benefits and is working to improve community-care coordination through expanded integrated case management. \"Our wait times now for new patients in primary care have actually dropped even more ... we're down to 11 days,\" Riello said. He added that the VA is enhancing community care and investing resources where efficiency gains are identified.

The update addressed how VA funding and community care work at the local level. Riello described three appropriated VA funding streams — medical services, medical administration and medical facilities — and said community-care payments come from the medical services appropriation. He referred to the Mission Act criteria that determine community-care eligibility, citing drive time and wait-time thresholds and other statutory factors.

Riello urged veterans to register with the VA so the system can locate and pay for care when needed. \"They must be registered,\" he said, describing registration events the El Paso VA holds and stressing that bedside outreach can be arranged but payments require the veteran be in the VA system. He also warned veterans with dual coverage to declare VA benefits first at outside facilities to avoid Medicare or private insurance being billed first.

On billing and outside-provider coordination, Riello said the VA uses TriWest as the third-party administrator for community care and that TriWest handles provider billing. He described efforts to give TriWest feedback when private providers bill incorrectly.

Riello described upcoming and recent outreach events, including a \"borderplex\" event and the El Paso VA Whole Health Summit on April 5 at the Beast Rec Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., which he said is open to the public and will highlight nonpharmacologic treatments such as chiropractic care, acupuncture and tai chi.

Committee members asked questions about funding flows and how community care is billed; Riello reiterated that local medical service funds are used for both in-house operations and community-care payments and that Congress appropriates the overall VA budget. He also encouraged veterans who are not yet enrolled to sign up so they are covered if they require emergency or inpatient care.

The update concluded with an offer to answer veterans' questions at registration events and with additional outreach at town halls and community events.

Ending: The El Paso VA said it will continue outreach through scheduled registration events and community partnerships, and highlighted the April 5 Whole Health Summit as an opportunity for veterans and family members to learn about alternatives to opioid pain medications and other resources.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee 3/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mark Riello, interim director at the El Paso VA, told the El Paso City Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee that primary care wait times for new patients at the Piedras facility have dropped to about 11 days and that same-day access remains available for urgent needs.","taxTitle","El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas","taxId",2792,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628846,"Committee hears community-service updates; minutes for Jan. 16 and Feb. 20 approved",1621,487000,2108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657&start=487&end=2108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657/thumbnail_487000.jpg","/articles/6628846/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Committee-hears-community-service-updates-minutes-for-Jan-16-and-Feb-20-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628846-4f87ac4738d614c3acfead11f802bab9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207974&Signature=EaHCZcC7IRyCPGbEEhK00j-uAcTZ61ZG7dV8jZQj7JE3GzE~d-vSbs2BwGpEvYOPH4vt~gZ-8mEO3pWK~qiHGWP4v3I8cXur-39Ob43Jm-I0KrAD9a6-iJlpoLR4FRZk5LXoGO~uA6533DNJH-ag-0viQkxKSr9MwYbuk804IkWAcg1IzyUcFCyIRJvjPeK3cwa-0Syx0ANzhmtIu9lbW5UkA-mLBZdcJuHdYFf6VH1aRWpYjJptA4V8ZZcTureBJw2vQP4LeXZC5XnjR6oRHGNIyTm-~g8DVX1j3P9mqzTDGovIUmE1-glIIY3kjo64ZdOWE0B56-AT67YPuEYs~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee heard public comment and a series of community updates, including a presentation from a home-care provider, an El Paso County veterans-services update and a presentation from Team Red, White & Blue.

Mariana Reyes, community liaison for Simplicity Home Care for veterans, spoke during the citizens' comment period to describe an in-home caregiving program for veterans enrolled in the BHA standard medical benefits package and provided a contact number: \"I can be reached at (915) 250-0071,\" Reyes said. She described services including housekeeping, meal preparation, respite care, assistance with activities of daily living, Alzheimer's and dementia care, stroke recovery support, hospice care and companionship.

Antoinette Hunt, veteran county service officer for El Paso County, presented the county's activities and event calendar. Hunt said the county formally submitted its Veterans Assistance Grant to the Texas Veterans Commission and that the commission will meet to vote on grant awards on April 16. She listed several upcoming events, including a women-oriented clinic, the monthly Veterans at Breakfast (which she estimated draws about 100 to 150 attendees), a Vietnam veterans pinning ceremony and a Flags Across America event. Hunt also said the county is partnering with DAV Chapter 187 and Veterans 1 Stop for a \"Veterans at the Park\" event at Oscarote Park in May.

Delilah Chisholm, chapter captain for Team Red, White & Blue El Paso, described the chapter's mission to connect veterans to community activities and noted an ultra-relay in May with local stops in El Paso; she invited community participation via the Team RWB app.

Procedural actions: the committee approved the minutes for the Jan. 16 meeting and the Feb. 20 meeting by voice vote. For Jan. 16, a member moved to accept the minutes and a second was recorded; the chair called for \"all in favor\" and members said \"aye.\" The Feb. 20 minutes were accepted by a similar voice vote.

Ending: The committee received several offers of follow-up help (including event promotion and referrals) and was reminded of upcoming deadlines for grant notifications and city-council briefing materials.","Public commenters and community organizations gave updates on home-care services, county veteran events and local veteran outreach. The committee approved minutes for January 16 and February 20 by voice vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628850,"Katie's Way Plus presents deep transcranial magnetic stimulation as treatment option; says TRICARE and VA cover major depressive disorder",1232,2859000,4091000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657&start=2859&end=4091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2714015-3f30e41f15a941a1fcca933d0adcc657/thumbnail_2859000.jpg","/articles/6628850/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Katies-Way-Plus-presents-deep-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-as-treatment-option-says-TRICARE-and-VA-cover-major-depressive-disorder","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628850-303f351e2576386b507a0a4d1d444847/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207974&Signature=Hl3n-bdNhvpLIGUPns4aXdNVqGWoyvCJGrAWL3m-sNVzv5MYkFyp9xDtvHPmQV2NXtn5jaUY05zF22Rt~hQ3VfrO9y0NDxSDCGyjTKYC0bjQhjt4ixJcbm5ymoHG5SfG70YMglNLeKZcTGvnj6VqcXs~xvI0ayrGOM-tu7fHwpG1pwp0mTKzMaoGLy7ki01SYLWlckR4YRCqdwUzYMJGYl8I4v-0iUfKmjmHt1vNLS0hpDI~i3idWnESrah9taoEiXXC4EIO623z2a25KBg2CB8UZB2KvRlpn867LL28Dj-gNQu1sIY~mMRQP~ulRKaSFdtszW92cX7PLry-A5UlHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Jason Wyman, colonel (ret.) and clinical lead for Katie's Way Plus, briefed the Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee on deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (deep TMS), an FDA-cleared, noninvasive brain-stimulation therapy he described as an alternative for veterans who have not responded to standard treatments.

\"When a soldier, sailor, or marines comes into 1 of our clinic, we have same day access,\" Dr. Jason Wyman said, describing the organization's goal of rapid evaluation and treatment. He explained that about 30% of patients with major depressive disorder do not respond to standard medication and psychotherapy; deep TMS targets mood centers with a magnetic field and, he said, can speed recovery and reduce reliance on medication for some patients.

Katie's Way presenters described the treatment pathway and coverage details: the usual course is 36 sessions, and providers commonly seek preauthorization; Dr. Wyman said TRICARE and the VA cover deep TMS for major depressive disorder and that many authorizations are approved for as many as 60 sessions to allow for follow-up or booster treatments. He also noted FDA approval history and international practice, and said Europe has sometimes adopted related therapies earlier than the U.S. regulatory process.

Brandy Rangel, facility director for Katie's Way in El Paso, and other presenters said Katie's Way operates multiple clinics nationally and plans additional local capacity. The presenters described use cases including treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, smoking cessation, perinatal and postpartum depression, and experimental or early-use approaches for PTSD and other conditions.

Panel members asked about eligibility, referrals and cost. Dr. Wyman said active-duty patients require provider referral and preauthorization; TRICARE Select beneficiaries and family members can self-refer in some cases. He acknowledged that co-pays can be a concern and said Katie's Way pursues grants and other financial assistance to limit patient out-of-pocket costs.

Presenters said they would be at the Borderplex Expo the next day for further questions and outreach to veterans and service providers.

Ending: Katie's Way urged veterans and clinicians to discuss TMS as an option, and said the organization will work to minimize financial barriers while expanding local clinic capacity.","Representatives from Katie's Way and Dr. Jason Wyman described deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (deep TMS) as an FDA-approved treatment for depression and related conditions, explained insurance coverage and protocols, and said the provider plans further clinic expansion and local outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

El Paso VA interim director says wait times down to 11 days, stresses registration and community-care coordination

Committee hears community-service updates; minutes for Jan. 16 and Feb. 20 approved

Katie's Way Plus presents deep transcranial magnetic stimulation as treatment option; says TRICARE and VA cover major depressive disorder