Beneficiary Travel Should Be More Automated

[Vync]

Since the VAMC clinic clerks no longer print travel vouchers, we are now forced to either fill out and mail the form or use the online travel system. Half the time the online system does not work properly.

It would be great if the VA could automate this for vets to a varying degree. If going to a community care appointment, a claim would still be required because the VA system does not integrate with their systems.

The VA really should automatically issue travel claims for those which can be detected in their system. For example, if you are SC for something and see a VA provider, issue the claim payment automatically. The same for 50%+ vets or those attending an on-premises C&P.

Whether on paper or online, the claim system makes a vet affirm that they are not submitting a fraudulent claim every time. However, they don't do this to issue monthly compensation payments. 

What does everyone else think?

[Dustoff1970]

This is an example of the government and VA pretending to help vets and actually doing the opposite causing unnecessary stress and aggravation to vets with serious medical issues.  

Unfortunately this is very prevalent across the board for all agencies and deliberate as in KGB land. Also known as double speak.

"Trust me I am from the government"   what BS.

[Vync]

@Dustoff1970 Personally, I really liked going to my VAMC and standing in line at the cashier to cash out my travel voucher. I was able to immediately grab some lunch or put the rest into my gas tank. Then someone got a bright idea about centralizing everything and using direct deposit. At least they still printed out the form, asked you to sign it, and then drop it into the voucher collection box. Now they screwed it up even more. Reminds me of the old saying, "If it is not broken, then don't fix it." They had some good potential options which were really pro-veteran and decided to raise the inconvenience level.