11-08-08, 9:55 am
In a letter of congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama this week, Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) called on the future president to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs and impose mandatory funding for benefits for veterans.
The letter stated that the Obama administration faces 'a serious challenge in fixing a badly broken Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improving the delivery of health care and other services to our nation’s veterans and their families.'
Referencing numerous media and other reports about delays in the approval of medical benefits, the VCS letter urged reform of the VA to ensure that when veterans apply for care their 'medical and benefit needs should be quickly and completely addressed, without red tape, delay, stigma, or discrimination.'
Veterans face 'a perfect storm of problems' that demand immediate and thoughtful solutions, the VCS added. The economic crisis, the two wars in the Middle East, and ongoing deficiencies related to benefits claims from the Vietnam War era have combined to swamp the system.
VCS urged comprehensive reforms at the VA, including 'bold leadership, streamlined policies, and mandatory funding.' In an addendum to the letter that outline the specifics of the reforms request, VCS pointed to the need for leadership at the VA that was both professional, adequate to the needs of VA facilities, and who are dedicated to service not simply to earning bonuses built into the VA pay system.
The letter further urged elimination of the 'adversarial' nature of the VA's benefits claims process implemented under the Bush administration. In order to save money, VA claims processors were ordered to make the approval process as difficult as possible for veterans. For example, the VCS pointed out, the current process 'requires brain damaged and psychologically wounded veterans to complete a 23-page disability claim form plus stacks of healthcare enrollment forms before receiving assistance.'
VA should make special efforts to help mentally wounded or ill veterans rather than discriminate against or ostracize them, the VCS letter added.
The letter further urged that VA make special efforts to include women veterans, provide voting assistance, and eliminate faith-based programs that may cause veterans to question their right to care if they do not share the religious views of particular groups.
