AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Biden Administration's PACT Act is expanding how it helps veterans have easier access to health care.
The PACT Act was signed in 2022, and it gives health care and benefits to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.
The expansion will allow even more service members access to health care. It also adds additional types of cancers to the list of presumable conditions, eliminating a step to the current process.
It's allowing thousands of veterans to get the health care services they're entitled to.
Army vet Rodriguez Grimes says it means the world to him to know more veterans are getting the compensation they deserve.
"It's a beautiful thing because it will help so many veterans that need it, medically, physically and also mentally, because everything ties together," said Grimes.
The PACT Act continues to expand the types of veterans who are eligible ever since it was signed into law.
It now applies to Gulf War veterans alongside post-9/11 veterans and removes the step of filing proof of illness connected to service from the growing list of cancers.
Jennifer Blanchard with Augusta VA said: "That's taken some of the burden off of the veteran to be able to prove that their condition was linked to their service."
The VA says since the PACT Act was signed, more than 800,000 veterans have signed up for VA care.
Leaders with the Augusta VA say the growing trend is translating locally.
"We're seeing increased numbers wanting to come in for specialty care for those oncology visits. So, we're working very hard to grow to make sure that we have the resources we need to care for them, but we're here for them," said Blanchard.
Grimes says he's hopeful more veterans take advantage of the resources that are available and reach out.
"The system works. And it's a lot of people in the system that care and are committed to us," he said.
Augusta VA says they're continuing to put on more outreach events to get the word out for veterans in the community who haven't signed up for PACT Act opportunities.
The next one will be at Augusta VA's main campus on Wrightsboro Road on February 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.