VA'S MANSFIELD WANTS TO CUT THROUGH AGENCY'S RED
TAPE -- Acting VA Secretary: "...These benefits
are earned
by service that has been provided to this nation.
They
need to be delivered in an efficient and timely
manner."
Acting VA Secretary Gordon Mansfield
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Story here...
http://www.jacksonville.
com/tu-online/stories/10110
7/geo_207298310.shtml
Story below:
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Vet's health care access a priority
VA boss wants veterans to get the benefits they are owed
By CAROLE HAWKINS
Times-Union Correspondent
ST. SIMONS ISLAND - The nation's top Veterans Affairs official said he
wants to cut through the red tape that slows down the delivery of health
care for U.S. veterans.
Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon Mansfield addressed a crowd of
more than 200 Wednesday at the state's Veterans Service Officer Training
Conference at Sea Palms Resort on St. Simons Island. The annual event
provides updates on veterans health benefits and laws to service officers
who usher veterans through the process at county Veterans Service offices.
Mansfield has worked for the VA since 2001 and became acting director on
Oct. 1. He praised the VA's health-care system as one of the best in the
country and said timely access to that health care would be one of his
administration's top priorities.
"We are working hard to make sure every Georgia veteran gets the benefits
they are owed," Mansfield said. "I want you to know that I understand that
these benefits are earned by service that has been provided to this
nation. They need to be delivered in an efficient and timely manner."
As a Vietnam veteran who suffered a spinal cord injury during the 1968 Tet
offensive, Mansfield can identify with that statement. The VA benefits
package is good: It just needs to come more quickly, he said.
Statutory and court requirements expand and complicate the process of
filing claims for veterans. Better case management is needed to fast track
these claims, he said.
"We just have to do a better job of operating the business side so we can
get these cases moving through the system," he said.
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In recent years, some veterans have complained
that it takes a month or more to get an appointment to see a doctor at a
VA medical center.
Also, Mansfield said he wants to improve the VA health-care Web site. And
he has been disturbed by reports of doctor appointments being canceled
without informing patients. "That is just not acceptable. We must
straighten this out," Mansfield said.
On the side of progress, Mansfield reported four new Nursing Academy sites
have been launched, including one at the University of Florida in
Gainesville. The program helps address the country's nursing shortage by
providing qualified VA instructors to existing schools.
Also, Mansfield promised the VA would continue to build more outpatient
clinics.
These clinics provide services similar to a primary care physician,
including exams, immunizations, prescriptions and lab testing, without the
need to go to a higher-priced VA hospital for service.
"We are beginning the process again of determining which ones we will do
during the coming fiscal year. The decision depends on how many dollars we
get," Mansfield said.
VA public affairs officer Janine Cameron said right now six new clinics
are scheduled to open in Georgia, including one in Brunswick in 2009.
But now Southeast Georgia veterans seeking VA services must travel long
distances for care. For example, veterans in Brusnwick are assigned to the
Dublin hospital and those in Waycross go the Lake City hospital. Valdosta
has an outpatient clinic as does Savannah and Jacksonville.
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