New Plan For Better Vets' Care

Task Force Proposals Promise Less Paperwork, More Screenings And A Better Disability Claims System

(AP)  Injured soldiers and veterans grappling with backlogs and red tape will now fill out less paperwork, get more screenings for brain injury and go through an improved disability claims system, a presidential task force said Tuesday.

Responding to criticism about poor treatment of injured soldiers, the interagency task force headed by Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson released its report and recommendations for immediately improving veterans' care.

Acknowledging that errors have been made, the panel found that government procedures now are unwieldy with unacceptable gaps as service members and veterans move from military hospitals to the VA's vast network of 1,400 hospitals and clinics.

"The federal government must be responsive and efficient in delivering our benefits and services to these heroes," Nicholson said in announcing the recommendations at the National Press Club. "They should not have to fight bureaucratic red tape for benefits earned by their courageous service.

"We are not perfect," he added. "We recognize that this huge bureaucracy needs a major transformation."

Pointing to poor coordination between the VA and Pentagon, the recommendations call for a joint electronic case-management system that will let officials share files and track patients much like packages en route to a destination.

Case managers will be added to help guide troops and their families through the process, and all veterans receiving care in VA facilities will be tested for mild to moderate brain injury, an often unseen ailment that could emerge months after finishing service.

Blaming backlogs on "improved outreach," Nicholson said he also had requested more money to hire more staff to help cut the delay in processing benefit claims — currently an average of 177 days — to 125 days.

In addition, the task force, which includes Cabinet secretaries and officials at eight government agencies, urged the creation of a joint disability claims process handled by the Pentagon and VA to speed delivery of benefits and reduce disparities in the system.

Critics have noted that the Army consistently rates injured soldiers lower than the other armed services and VA. One congressional commission has suggested that the Army might be doing so to avoid paying higher disability benefits.

Among the other recommendations:

Expedite housing claims and other services for returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan to reduce growing instances where they are forced to live on the streets.

Expand eligibility of small business loans to provide more opportunities for veterans to obtain self-employment. The Labor Department will also work with veterans as they are recovering from injury to ease their transition to civilian life.

Improve outreach with additional newsletters and job fairs to educate service members and veterans of benefits and services.

Nicholson presented the recommendations to President Bush on Monday. The task force, which was charged with devising immediate solutions that would not require additional funding or new legislation, said it will continue to monitor agencies and will meet again in 45 days to report on the progress.

The task force is one of several commissions and congressional committees investigating ways to improve veterans care following disclosures in February of shoddy treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

A separate presidential commission chaired by former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala is expected to release its recommendations by late July.



© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment

by boondoggler7 April 24, 2007 11:08 PM PDT

Dargghhh! Perhaps bush will grab that pink little baby, hold him up the sky to prevent the united states marines securing him and physically escorting him from office after his employment is terminated much like the presidential character in Stephen King's The Dead Zone. Hahahhahahahahaa. Arrrgghhh!

Reply to this comment

by boondoggler7 April 24, 2007 11:11 PM PDT

Is is actually quite cute to see this picture with bush holding the little baby. Bush strikes me as a baby myself. He is like a naive little kid. When I see his face he looks sweet and innocent. Bush is a nice guy with a quick wit and rye sense of humor. I love bush. He is my friend. He was an average student. He just had some bad teachers. I love you george and I always will. I'll say a prayer for you now and forever after.

Reply to this comment

by harp1963 April 25, 2007 1:44 AM PDT

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

Reply to this comment

by bgreen415 April 25, 2007 7:20 AM PDT

I wish them nothing but luck. They are going to need it. I am a disabled Vet that has been navigating the "System" for over 30 years now. I have seen the rhetoric and promises more times than I can count with no true change. Best advice is have one of your US Senator's offices on speed dial. You are likely to need it.

Reply to this comment

by ramos937 April 25, 2007 9:55 AM PDT

Sorry, but if any vet thinks this storey is good news, you are badly mistaken. No matter what the report recommends, resources will be required. Because every available dollar is required for Iraq, the funds just are not and will not be there. It makes for good photo-op and speeches and rethoric but this will not lead to improvement.

Reply to this comment

by huskerarmy April 25, 2007 11:08 AM PDT

"I have to fight for every percent by constantly going back and appealing the decisions of VA. They rate you at 30% but only give you 10%..."
Meanwhile, corporate welfare is costing us billions... Before it's all said and done, taxpayers will have paid at least 950 billion dollars for the Savings and Loans bail out.

Reply to this comment

by sclaires April 25, 2007 2:43 PM PDT

I will believe it when I hear about it from the ones that it concerns. Otherwise, as far as I am concerned, it is all just hot air.

Reply to this comment

by michellem99-2009 April 25, 2007 4:55 PM PDT

First of all,I wish to thank our vets and I mean that. I live with a vet.,my dad is a vet. My friend is very grateful for the care he gets at VAMC.
He is kind to the staff who treats him. He thanks the staff there. Yes there are crabby vets there as well who demand too much out of the VAMC who therefore can't meet those demands. Money. The VAMCs need funding ladies and gentlemen, they have not been funded under the Bush Adm. So the VAMC works with what they have. We all feel it could be better than it is but the care is not free. Yet I am grateful that you vets get the care that you do. It is sad that vets. fall thru the cracks when they truly need and grateful for that care and help.So even tho you served this nation with honour,I am only one person WHO could never join the military as I am visually impaired. So vets come back and need that care . I hope they get that care.

Reply to this comment

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[boondoggler7]

Dargghhh! Perhaps bush will grab that pink little baby, hold him up the sky to prevent the united states marines securing him and physically escorting him from office after his employment is terminated much like the presidential character in Stephen King's The Dead Zone. Hahahhahahahahaa. Arrrgghhh!

[boondoggler7]

Is is actually quite cute to see this picture with bush holding the little baby. Bush strikes me as a baby myself. He is like a naive little kid. When I see his face he looks sweet and innocent. Bush is a nice guy with a quick wit and rye sense of humor. I love bush. He is my friend. He was an average student. He just had some bad teachers. I love you george and I always will. I'll say a prayer for you now and forever after.

[harp1963]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

[bgreen415]

I wish them nothing but luck. They are going to need it. I am a disabled Vet that has been navigating the "System" for over 30 years now. I have seen the rhetoric and promises more times than I can count with no true change. Best advice is have one of your US Senator's offices on speed dial. You are likely to need it.

[ramos937]

Sorry, but if any vet thinks this storey is good news, you are badly mistaken. No matter what the report recommends, resources will be required. Because every available dollar is required for Iraq, the funds just are not and will not be there. It makes for good photo-op and speeches and rethoric but this will not lead to improvement.

[huskerarmy]

"I have to fight for every percent by constantly going back and appealing the decisions of VA. They rate you at 30% but only give you 10%..."
Meanwhile, corporate welfare is costing us billions... Before it's all said and done, taxpayers will have paid at least 950 billion dollars for the Savings and Loans bail out.

[sclaires]

I will believe it when I hear about it from the ones that it concerns. Otherwise, as far as I am concerned, it is all just hot air.

[michellem99-2009]

First of all,I wish to thank our vets and I mean that. I live with a vet.,my dad is a vet. My friend is very grateful for the care he gets at VAMC.
He is kind to the staff who treats him. He thanks the staff there. Yes there are crabby vets there as well who demand too much out of the VAMC who therefore can't meet those demands. Money. The VAMCs need funding ladies and gentlemen, they have not been funded under the Bush Adm. So the VAMC works with what they have. We all feel it could be better than it is but the care is not free. Yet I am grateful that you vets get the care that you do. It is sad that vets. fall thru the cracks when they truly need and grateful for that care and help.So even tho you served this nation with honour,I am only one person WHO could never join the military as I am visually impaired. So vets come back and need that care . I hope they get that care.