Houlton VA Clinic

We provide the full spectrum of substance use disorder treatment, from acute withdrawal management, to longitudinal outpatient treatment.

Our Medical Center and clinics provide a comprehensive array of treatment options for Substance Use Disorders, including inpatient withdrawal management, intensive outpatient programming, individual and group therapy and medication management. Residential treatment is available through referral to nearby VA Medical Centers.

Available in person at Togus, or system-wide through virtual formats.

Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services. Our laboratory and pathology services include:

• Study of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for illness management
• Testing for infectious diseases
• Cytopathology (study of unusual cells) and surgical pathology (study of tissue removed during surgery)
• Autopsy services

*At Togus, walk-ins are accepted for all services excluding Therapeutic Phlebotomy

We provide care for military sexual trauma in our mental (behavioral) health clinics. MST-related care also includes treatment for physical conditions that resulted from the MST experience. Our services include: 

• Counseling
• Compensated work therapy
• Homeless services
• Psychological testing
• Psychiatric care
• Medical evaluation and treatment for MST-related conditions

My HealtheVet is the VA’s patient portal for 24/7 access to online medical records and services.

From the convenience of any computer on the internet, Veterans can

• Securely message healthcare teams.
• Refill prescriptions with the click of a key, track Rx shipping.
• Check appointments and receive email appointment reminders.
• Schedule and request appointments for primary care or mental health.
• Review lab results, radiology, and other tests.
• Download healthcare records and review provider notes.
• Download medical images like X-rays, mammograms, CTs, and MRIs.
• Use our trusted and extensive Veterans Health Library.

REGISTER or Sign In at: My HealtheVet

Premium Upgrade / Authentication to use all features can be done at any VA Maine primary care office,  the Togus Release of Information desk, and with most front desks of outpatient services.  You can also call our coordination to do this by video connections with our coordinator.

Mike L’Abbe

My HealtheVet Coordinator

Phone:  Email:    Michael.labbe@va.gov

If you have symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, we can help. We offer assessment and treatment support such as private counseling, group therapy and medication. It’s never too late to get help.

Our medical center and clinics provide patient-centered and recovery-oriented treatment for PTSD and co-occurring conditions including individual, group, and couples therapy and medication management. We offer assessment and treatment for survivors of all forms of trauma including complex childhood abuse/neglect, military trauma, MST, and civilian trauma. Treatment options consistent with first-line (i.e., “strongly recommended”) recommendations in the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines are available at all VHA points of service (Togus and CBOCs). Outpatient and specialty outpatient PTSD services are provided in person and virtually. Residential treatment is available through referral to nearby VA Medical Centers.

Available in-person at Togus, or system-wide through virtual formats.

Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life, including immunizations and vaccinations. They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you.

A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care. Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent, diagnose, and treat adult diseases. Doctors who specialize in family medicine provide primary health care to the entire family. Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as:

• Labs and blood work
• Mental health care
• Women's health care
• Radiology
• Social services
• Telehealth

If you are trying to quit smoking or want to stop using tobacco, we can help you with support, resources and programs.

You can quit smoking or chewing tobacco. Our goal is to provide support and strategies to add to optional nicotine replacement therapy prescribed by your primary care doctor. These include:

• FDA-approved medications to manage nicotine withdrawal and the urge to smoke.
• Counseling available in group or one-on one using Quitline.

We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis. We offer:

• Suicide prevention care coordinators
• Suicide prevention case managers
• Gun safety locks

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

TOXIC EXPOSURES

While toxic exposure is defined by law, generally there are several types of possible exposures or hazards Veterans may have experienced during their military service. Some common examples appear below.

» Open Burn Pits/Airborne Hazards: Contaminants or substances in the air including smoke and fumes from open burn pits and fine particulate matter.

» Gulf War related exposures: Veterans may have been exposed to a variety of environmental hazards including pesticides and oil well fires.

» Agent Orange: An herbicide used to thin-out thick foliage commonly found in jungles and fields.

» Radiation: Exposure from sources such as nuclear weapons.

» Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure: Between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, Veterans and their families may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.

» Other exposures: There are other potential toxic exposures that may occur during military service.

MANAGE YOUR HEALTH

Proactively developing a long-term health care plan with your care team can help detect conditions early and treat or lessen the effect of complications resulting from exposure(s).

TALK WITH A VA PROVIDER:

» Call 1-800-MyVA411 then press 8, or a local VA clinical care team

» Send a secure message to your clinical care team through your patient portal:

My HealtheVet at: www.myhealth.va.gov or My VA Health at: patientportal.myhealth.va.gov

» Discuss exposure concerns at your next VA appointment

ENROLL IN VA CARE:

» Online www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction

» Call 877-222-VETS (8387)

» Visit your nearest VA medical center and enroll in person: www.va.gov/find-locations

REGISTRY HEALTH EXAMS

Registry health exams are no-cost voluntary environmental exposure medical exams. VA has several health registries– these include: Agent Orange, Airborne Hazard and Open Burn Pit, Gulf War (includes Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn), Ionizing Radiation, Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program, Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center.

» You may be eligible to participate in one or more of these health registries. Note: The registry evaluation is not a compensation exam or required for other VA benefits.

» Registries can alert you to possible health problems related to your military service and help VA better understand and respond to these health problems more effectively.

SCHEDULE A REGISTRY EXAM WITH YOUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR

» Online www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp

» Call 1-800-MyVA411, then press 8

» Visit your local VA Medical Center

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

» Visit www.va.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MyVA411, then press 8

» Information on military environmental exposures: www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp

» Exposure benefits information: www.va.gov/disability/eligibility

» Download the free VA Exposure Ed mobile app: mobile.va.gov/app/exposure-ed

VA PRESUMPTIVE CONDITIONS

Veterans may be eligible for disability benefits and/or compensation if they have a health condition that results in disability and was connected to their military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition. For some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.” We consider a condition presumptive when it’s established by law or regulation. If you have a presumptive condition, you do not need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

BENEFITS

» Veterans with presumptive diseases may be eligible for benefits such as disability compensation

» Surviving spouses, dependent children and/or parents of deceased Veterans may be eligible for benefits such as dependency and indemnity compensation and accrued benefits

» Veterans who had claims that were previously denied can file supplemental claims

» To File a Claim for Benefits

• Submit online: www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim

• Access VA benefits: www.ebenefits.va.gov

• Call VA Benefits hotline: for help filing a claim

• Locate a local Veteran Service Officer www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp

How can Veterans apply for service compensation?

• Call the VA benefits assistance center schedule an appointment to meet with a benefits counselor:

1-

• Call the Togus Regional Benefits Office

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o Appointments can be made at the Togus Regional office located at 1 VA Center, Augusta

ME 04330

• Applications can be done online or via paper

o To apply directly online using a MHV or ID.me account visit:

https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/

o Or VA Form 21-526EZ can be printed and mailed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

PO Box 4444

Janesville, WI 5354

Tips:

• Speak with someone at the VBA first before submitting your application, as the form can be

confusing and wording you use is important

• Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) can also help with submitting claims and assisting with self[1]advocacy, see contact information below

• Veterans Benefits Administration Togus Regional Office Building 248 Office Phone:
• Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Building 248 Room 110 Veteran Service Officer Phone:
• Disabled American Veterans Building 248, Room 114 Veteran Services Officer Phone:
• Paralyzed Veterans of America Building 248, Room 112 Veterans Service Officer Phone:
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Building 248, Rm 117 Veterans Service Officer Phone:
• American Legion Building 205 Room 318 Veteran Services Officer Office Phone:

More information on the PACT Act can be found here: VA Maine PACT Act Resources

• Beneficiary Travel (BT) provides access to care through travel reimbursement to eligible Veterans and payment for some transportation services on behalf of certain eligible Veterans.

  Travel reimbursement staff are located at Togus, but Veterans can submit their paper claim at Togus or the CBOCs.

Whole Health is VA's approach to patient-centered, proactive, whole-person care. It combines conventional clinical care with complementary and integrative approaches, community support, and skill building for self-care to help people take charge of their health and live life to the fullest. Evidence shows that Whole Health improves health outcomes and clinician satisfaction.

Whole Health At VA Maine | VA Maine Health Care | Veterans Affairs

We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings, mental health treatment, recovery from military sexual trauma, maternity care and female-specific medical equipment.

VA Maine Healthcare System supports the health, welfare, and dignity of female Veterans and their families by ensuring equal access to timely, sensitive, and quality care. Our local facility offers a variety of services, including: 

• Women’s gender-specific health-screening and disease prevention at all sites of care.
• All Breast Health Care Services (Screening, Diagnostic and Treatments) is done locally, closer to the Veteran, through Community Care with authorization and coordination with their Primary Care Pact Team.
• Routine Gynecological Care may be done on site or may be done through Community Care with authorization and coordination with the Veterans Primary Care Pact Team.
• Reproductive Health Services may be done on site or through Community Care with authorization and coordination with the Veterans Primary Care Pact Team.
• Pregnancy, Delivery services, Newborn Care is all done locally, through Community Care with authorization and coordination with their Primary Care Pact Team.
• Genetic Counseling concerning inheritance of genetically determined diseases (through e-consult, video consults).
• Mental Health Service/Therapy- for Gender Sensitive Conditions/Issues.
• Prosthetic Packages designed for our Women Veterans-Lactation Package, and  Breast Cancer Prosthetic Supplies.
• Whole Health Education Programs .

Contact VA Maine’s Women Veterans Program Manager at   ext. 4017 for more information regarding available services or information regarding your healthcare benefits.

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator