February 4, 2010
Walcoff: Vets Should Be Prepared For Claims Processing To Take Longer In 2011.
The
Army Times (2/3) reports, "The 2011 Veterans Affairs Department
budget unveiled Monday by the White House includes what VA officials
called an 'unprecedented' 27 percent funding increase for the
Veterans Benefits Administration, some of which will be used to hire
4,000 permanent employees to process benefits claims." However, in
an "admission that comes as no surprise to few who have been
watching VA struggle with a backlog of benefits claims, Michael
Walcoff, VA's acting undersecretary for benefits, said veterans
should be prepared for the average claims processing time to be
longer in fiscal 2011 than it is today." But the Times did note that
in a "statement, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said there are long-term
plans to harness technology to speed claims, such as establishing a
paperless processing system and changing procedures to reduce steps
as part of promised transformation."
Impact:
VA Reputation, Claims Processing
VA, DOD Ask For $2.8 Billion In Health Technology Funding.
In
continuing coverage,
NextGov (2/3) reports, "The Defense and Veterans Affairs
departments have asked for $2.8 billion for health information
technology for fiscal 2011, nearly 4 percent of the federal
government's entire IT budget. The spending reflects the scale of
the health care systems the two departments operate and the
importance that Defense and VA," which "asked for $1.3 billion in
fiscal 2011," place "on relying on health IT to manage the care for
the 15.5 million soldiers and veterans it serves." Meanwhile, in an
information box accompanying a story on negative congressional
reaction to President Obama's 2011 budget proposal,
USA Today (2/2) reports, "Working with the Defense Department,
the VA is planning to develop a lifetime electronic medical record
for all troops and veterans."
Impact:
VA Budget, Health Systems Technology