Fixing The Va

[hurryupnwait]

There's a lot of talk these days about fixing the VA. We have very talented people on Hadit and many know about the problems and issues with the VA, so let's start thinking about how to fix them. A Hadit think tank if you will.

When replying could we keep a format such as;

Issue: Slow processing of claims.

Fix: Hire and train more raters.

Cheers

Paul

[hurryupnwait]

Mcafee said "The problem is very simple NO ACCOUNTABILITY."

I would agree completely, what are some ideas to hold them accountable?

[hurryupnwait]

I think this may be a useless discussion because the people in power don't give a damn what we veterans think about the VA. Veterans need to get out in the street to make an impression on lawmakers. Otherwise, we are just charity cases.

I agree John, but the veterans in the street have to be asking for something, what would that be?

What do we want the people in power to do?

[john999]

I want veterans to take to the streets. I want to blow up the VA in Washington and start over. The VA is like a horse that has broken its leg. It needs to be put out of its misery. A system this bad cannot be fixed. Cosmetic change is not enough.

[fullcount15]

Problem: Have VA employees check their negative attitudes at the door when they come to work.

Fix: Get rid of all the supervisors who cannot seem to train and motivate their employees. "Enthusiasm Breeds Enthusiasm". Bottom line is get rid of all the Dinosaur Deadweight within the system and get some people in that want to serve Veterans with dignity and respect.

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All Is Well. In my Pursuit to right a wrong as all of you whom have eithier attempted or are in the process of this arguise and most stressful task to say the least. My point is this accross the board all of the AGENCIES VARO, VAMC, VHA, VBA, BVA, AMC, VISN, ETC.Did I miss anyone.Any way within the last 2 years of happily and most grateful for this site and its awesome forthgiving people whom welcome you and are most gracious in there attempt to help you resolve all if not one specific issue and get you on the right track, I thank you.Now here is the part I just befuttles me you have all these AGENCIES in place whom are adversarial confrontational and pretty much make you feel as if you are beneath them.Instead of HOW MAY I HELP YOU ,I have recieved just the opposite such as VSCM Newark NJ.WE DECIDE OF WHAT YOUR ENTITLED TOO,regardless of the C-File SMR Etc.Then you have BVA, Whom also makes a decision of which is provided by VARO Records and such who is to say that VARO does not provide all or complete RECORDS for these decision makers ? Sorry but I still stand by my earlier comment NO ACCOUNTABILITY. I had a very nice conversation with the acting Director of this facility last nite she was there after 5:00 pm and conveyed my concernes and the dispostion of my point of contact or VSCM and his conduct and behaviour.As to what documents are missing or decision making on 2 incompletes C+P exams that were not followed by the Clinicians Guide.And yet my request for a new C+P exam has been eithier dismissed or ignored.And she said she will get to the bottom of this i threw every name or contact of these individual under the BUS if you will I am so tired of getting LIP SERVICE and no results.I LOVE YOU ALL Have A GREAT DAY. PS Only Time will tell and from now on if thats what it takes is to names place s and imes of whom you speak with make NOTE or documant all so you have the proof i RECORD all conversation with all the agenicies and tell them up front some hang up some will speak . GOOD LUCK TO ALL

[Testvet]

Issue: Claims processing

Solution: An independent medical review team should be established and co-located at the VARO. These folks would be contract personnel and not VA employees.  They decide on the claim:

-if approved; forward it to the VARO as approved and ready to be processed. VARO then decides on date of claim and retro is applied and payment is mailed or electronically processed.

- if questions or denied; send back to veteran and representative for further clarification.

VARO would not get involved with a claim until the DRO level.

s/Mags

Mags, one of the people on the Obama Transition team is DR Linda Blimes of the "Three Trillion Dollar War" she testified to Congress about a year and half ago (give or take some) that she thinks the best solution to the claims process is for the VA to handle compensation claims like the IRS handles tax returns, approve the claims and pay the people, if any claims stick out like a sore thumb and we all know those claims

(Johhny was a cook, Johnny claims to have won the Silver Star, a DFC, the Soldiers Medal and the Navy Cross, we all know Johhny is full of chit, and the claim is a red flare) these are the claims that VARO's should be investigating before awarding, not tinnitus claims, or other such claims that are evidenced by medical records in service and out (continuity of treatment) she even advocates awarding PTSD claims, the question there will always be at what percentage, but if the VARO's were only playing games with these claims, the process would be faster.

Then if any claims turn out to have been bogus and fraud was committed, which does happen in about 2% of all claims, prosecute the frauds, put them in prison and make them pay restitution.

This is the biggest craw in most veterans complaints about the VA, it is basically making the veterans fight another war, sometimes for much longer than they served on active duty, the appeals process is a nightmare

There are some good people on this transition team, lets see if they pay attention, I do know President Elect Obama is a strong supporter of Linda Blimes, so good things may be in the future, near future for the VARO's.