Post by RHMorgan on Apr 25, 2007 14:33:31 GMT -5
New Plan for Better Vets' Care
Associated Press | April 25, 2007
WASHINGTON - Injured Soldiers and veterans grappling with backlogs and red tape will now fill out less paperwork, get more screenings for brain injury and have an improved claims system, a presidential task force said Tuesday. Associated Press | April 25, 2007
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.
The panel acknowledged that government procedures 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 recommendations to improve care for troops and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. "They should not have to fight bureaucratic red tape for benefits earned by their courageous service.
Alert: Tell your public officials how you feel about this issue.
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Blaming backlogs on "improved outreach," Nicholson said he also has requested money to hire more staff to help reduce the time spent processing benefit claims - now an average of 177 days - to 125 days.
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Critics say the Army consistently rates Soldiers' injuries as less severe than do their counterparts in the other armed services and the VA. One congressional commission has suggested the Army might do so to avoid paying higher disability benefits.
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Among the report's recommendations:
-Expedite housing claims and other services for returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan, some of whom become homeless.
-Expand eligibility of small business loans to provide more opportunities for veterans to become self-employed. The Labor Department will also work with veterans as they recover from injuries to ease their transition to civilian life.
-Improve outreach with additional newsletters and job fairs for veterans.
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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.
FULL TEXT HERE: www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,133477,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl