WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted Thursday for legislation that would fund a nationwide investigation of scheduling practices in Veterans Administration facilities. The military construction/veterans affairs appropriations bill also funds work to reduce the backlog in disability claims at the VA, and increases funding for repairs to veterans’ long-term care facilities, including the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.
“Our veterans have earned the same level of service and care they delivered on the battlefield,” Senator Coons said. “Recent reports of misconduct and neglect at the Phoenix VA are appalling and unworthy of a nation built on the service and sacrifice of generations of veterans. No service member should ever have to struggle to access the health services and disability benefits he or she is owed. Our nation has to do a better job of caring for its veterans, and this bill is an important start. I’m glad funding in this bill will help to shed light on the tragic situation that occurred in Phoenix and work to ensure it never happens again at another VA facility.”
Some of Senator Coons’ veterans priorities, included in the bill approved by the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, are highlighted below:
VA Patient Scheduling Investigation
Provides an additional $5 million above the President’s budget request for the VA Office of Inspector General to conduct a nationwide investigation of all VA scheduling practices and procedures. The investigation comes in response to reports that certain VA Medical Centers used a recordkeeping gimmick to disguise backlogs in patient treatment, resulting in the deaths of up to 40 veterans at the Phoenix VA Medical Center alone. The bill will ensure all scheduling procedures receive thorough examination in order to prevent a recurrence of this issue, and will prohibit the payment of performance bonuses to Veterans Health Administration employees until the investigation is complete and necessary reforms have been instituted.
VA Claims Backlog Processing
Building on the 10-point claims processing initiative included in the FY14 appropriations bill, the FY15 bill includes additional funding and oversight provisions to support the VA’s surge to eliminate the current disability claims backlog. The bill includes workplace management reforms to improve oversight of claims handling, and adds $30 million to hire additional personnel to expedite claims processing. The FY15 bill also includes $10 million above the President’s request for hardware upgrades at Regional Offices to aid the VA’s rapid transition from a paper-based claims processing system to one using modern technology. The bill also provides additional funds to streamline the cumbersome appeals process.
Construction of extended care facilities for veterans
Includes $100 million for the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program to help address the current $489 million backlog in construction projects for state veterans homes. State long-term care facilities like Delaware Veterans Home in Milford rely on VA construction grants to pay for important life-safety improvements, major repairs and renovations, and construction of new facilities for aging, injured, and ill veterans. The current backlog has delayed needed repairs to these facilities, including a dining and kitchen renovation project at Delaware Veterans Home. Together with Senator Carper, Senator Coons advocated for no less than $85 million in the FY15 appropriations bill to address the nationwide backlog, and the Committee complied, increasing funding by more than $20 million over the President’s budget request and $15 million over FY14.
