Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) was established January 1, 1997, from the merger of the Montgomery and Tuskegee VA Medical Centers, which includes community-based outpatient clinics in Dothan, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia. These four CAVHCS sites serve 134,000 veterans in 43 counties in the central and southeastern portions of Alabama and western Georgia. A member of the VA Southeast Network, CAVHCS’ mission is to provide excellent services to veterans across the continuum of healthcare. The East (Tuskegee) and West (Montgomery) campuses are approximately 40 miles apart. The East Campus is located on 170-acres of land situated in a rural setting adjacent to the historic Tuskegee University and Moton Field, home of the Tuskegee Airmen. The West Campus is situated on 52-acres, located in a residential community adjacent to city school property and approximately five miles east of downtown Montgomery.

Services include: primary care at all four sites; medical and surgical care; a broad range of mental health programs; geriatrics and extended care, and a homeless domiciliary. Accreditations include the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

CAVHCS' Geriatrics, Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service's continuum of care includes initiatives that encompass the "whole person" concept. The Dedicated Alzheimer Dementia Unit allows staff to focus on the special needs of patients with dementia. The Therapeutic Wandering Area, a park-like setting complete with a waterflll, allows patients with dementia access to outside activities with their families. Adoption of the Eden Alternative concept has created a home-like environment utilizing plants, pets and familiarization techniques. CAVHCS is actively pursing opportunities for collaboration and sharing of resources with military partners at Fort Rucker, Alabama; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; and Fort Benning, Georgia. These partnerships ensure a seamless transition for the veteran from active duty to veteran status.

CAVHCS has implemented a new governance structure that mirrors the Malcolm Baldrige criteria for performance excellence. CAVHCS recently won the Alabama Excellence Award, administered by the Alabama Productivity Center. The prestigious award recognizes and honors organizations whose past or recent innovations in areas of leadership, production, service or management have resulted in increased productivity and quality.

CAVHCS operates a Community-based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Columbus, Georgia, which offers both Medical and Mental Health Primary Care, as well as Home Based Primary Care (HBPC).

CAVHCS operates a contracted (CBOC) in Dothan, Alabama, which provides Medical Primary Care is provided through the CAVHCS staffed Mental Health Clinic in Dothan. CAVHCS has affiliations with 24 schools, including Morehouse School of Medicine, Alabama State University, Auburn University, the University of Alabama and Tuskegee University.