By Rudi Williams, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2001 -- Calling himself a veteran's
activist, Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi
vowed to conduct a major top-to-bottom review of his
department's health care and claims processing systems and
its use of information technology.
Principi promises to make a difference.
"If we don't improve benefits and services after four
years, I'll consider my tour a failure," he said, in a
recent interview with the American Forces Information
Service. The new secretary is a Vietnam combat veteran. His
wife was a Navy nurse in Vietnam.
He said the VA's entire system is being examined to ensure
the needs of active duty service members are being met when
they become veterans and file for benefits. For instance,
he said, smarter use of modern technology is critical to
VA.
"We spend about $1.5 billion a year on information
technology, but the outcomes are not anywhere near
commensurate with the investment we make," Principi noted.
"We need to be smarter about how we procure technology and
how we use it."
He said taking up to two years to reach a decision and
abstract theories of veterans benefits and healthcare are
not acceptable. "I want practical, hands-on solutions as to
what we need to do better to provide high-quality, timely
evaluations on claims," he emphasized. "I want to ensure we
have uniform access to high-quality healthcare."
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates 172 medical
centers, 134 nursing homes and more than 800 community and
outpatient clinics that treated more than 620,000
inpatients last year and provided for 36.4 million
outpatient visits.
Principi said he's looking forward to feedback from a
national telephone survey of veterans concerning VA
services. The project started in February and will run
through August. He said the results, expected in 2002, will
help the government plan future programs and services.
VA officials expect the survey to help them follow trends
in the veterans population; compare veterans who use VA
services and those who do not; study the delivery of VA
benefits; and analyze VA policies.
The survey contractor, Westat Inc., is asking veterans
about health, disabilities, military background, education
and the need for services, such as medical care, housing
and education assistance. The interviewers will sample
20,000 veterans.
Principi said he's driven by his time last year as chairman
of the Congressional Commission on Service Members and
Veterans Transition Assistance. One of that group's major
concerns, for instance, was the experiences of service
members who filed for disability compensation before
separating, he noted.
One of the commission's conclusions, he added, was that
programs of the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment
and Training Service aren't working and need overhauls.
"We talked to thousands of active duty service members all
over the world to learn what their needs were," he said. He
gave an example:
"Recently separated veterans, who by definition are mature,
disciplined, drug-free, teamwork-oriented individuals,
should have a lower unemployment rate than nonveterans the
same age," he said. Yet his commission found that, despite
their qualifications, nearly 20 percent of veterans ages 20
to 24 were unemployed -- a higher rate than nonveteran
peers.
Consequently, Principi said, VA needs to continue seeking
comments, feedback and recommendations of people on active
duty and veterans as to their needs and how VA can better
provide them. He vowed to work hard, to listen to veterans'
concerns and to make decisions that will help.
"There has to be a close bond and trust between the people
who defend the nation and who may come to us for their
benefits after separating from the services," he said.
"They need to know we're providing them with the care and
benefits they've earned in service to our country."
Principi characterized military and veterans benefits as a
life cycle. "We'll provide benefits and services to
mitigate the hardships of active duty, or rehabilitation,"
he said. "We'll give them the educational tools and the
keys to the door to success in life in this modern
information age.
"We'll make a difference," he promised. "We'll strengthen
the bond and trust that absolutely must exist between the
people who serve the nation and the 219,000 dedicated
people in Veterans Affairs who provide services to them."
Related site of interest: VA Home Page,
www.va.gov/