SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Each duty station should have specific claims examiners assigned to them. If the claims examiners would be more familiar with each specific agencies operations, the system would work much better.

 

In addition, I should not have make multiple calls to the same agency to get answers. I should be able to call one person who is responsible for handling all my claims.

First-time claim submissions to for Social Security benefits are always denied. It has become an expecation for claims to be denied on their first submission. The necessity to resubmit claims in order for them to be seriously considered is a waste in taxpayer and claimant funds. I propose a review of SS policies and practices to eliminate the practice of an "automatic denial"'on all first-time claims. Claims should... more »

We suggest HUD modify the way interim interest is calculated when paying claims for insurance benefits under the Title I program. Currently, HUD reimburses lenders interim interest calculated at a rate of 7% of the unpaid amount of the loan obligation. This rate was set in HUD’s regulations (CFR 201.55(a)(2)) many years ago. The manufactured housing loan part of the Title I program was reformed in 2009 and the interim... more »

On the SSA Web Site, it states that it takes between 3 to 5 months to receive an initial SSA disability decision. On the VA Web Site, it states that it takes up to 6 months to receive an initial VA disability decision. SSA Appeals take 2 or more years at OHA. VA Appeals take 3 or more years at the BVA.

Although initial disability processing times have improved over recent years due to Automation including Electronic... more »

The VA is required by law to send all claimants the VCAA Letter, "Veterans Claims Assistance Act" Letter, with the purpose of helping the claimant. There are millions of these letters sent out each year.

The VA needs to automate the VCAA Letter. The VA asks for the Veterans e-mail address on the initial 526 claim application. When the Veteran has e-mail, we should send the VCAA Letter electronically, with annotation... more »

SSA field offices throughout the country take Social Security claims using a complex series of related data entry screens in a system known as "PCOM". Many of these data entry activities involve typing repetitive keystrokes and/or specific boilerplate phrasing. Some SSA field office employees make use of programmed macros that either instantaneously add these keystrokes or required phrases to claims screens or present... more »

The VA has a Rating Schedule which is used on every VA Disability claim. On the Rating Schedule, some percentages for disabilities are set up for "mild" or "moderate" or "moderately severe", etc. One Rating Specialist can grant 10% whereas another can grant 20% or 30%. The Rating Schedule should be less subjective to allow for proper payments to be made to Veterans.

Veterans attend C&P Examinations at VA Medical Centers to get medical evidence for a determination for disability benefits and payments.

Many times, the C&P Exam language does not match up to the VA Rating Schedule which is used to determine benefit amounts.

If the VA Medical Center had a checklist for the disability which is being examined, the examiner could determine the proper severity for evaluation.

This would... more »

The GAO estimates $17 BILLION dollars of improper Medicare payments each year.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays out $4.6 BILLION in improper and fraudulent benefits annually.

The Department of Veterans Affairs loses $800 MILLION annually on improper and fraudulent payments.

And the FRAUD list goes on and on and on, totaling OVER $100 BILLION PER YEAR!!!

1ST...I suggest that we include the statement... more »

Federal Claim Agencies receive many requests for claim copies. There are millions of paper claims folders.

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Requests involve copying a paper claim to give to the Veteran or Claimant.

Attorney Copy Requests involve copying a paper claim to give to the Attorney, Veteran or Claimant.

I suggest that we utilize scanners rather than copiers with these requests. We should scan in the paper... more »

Statistics show that 91% of Americans now use cell phones. Over 35% of Americans now own a smart phone.

There is an App for everything these days. The VA has a great website online. There are a lot of private companies that have Apps that give VA information.

The VA should develop this App to include information such as: *MyVA; *Check Status of Claim; VA Medical Center Appointment Reminder; FAQ’s; Most Popular... more »

Statistics show that 91% of Americans now use cell phones. Over 35% of Americans now own a smart phone.

There is an App for everything these days. SSA has a great website online. There are a lot of private companies that have Apps that give Social Security information.

SSA should develop this App to include information such as: *MySSA; *Check Status of Claim; *Social Security Appointment Reminder; *FAQ’s; *Most... more »

Eliminate all social security claims except those that have reached the retirement age.

Set up a national healthcare database that healthcare providers can tie into a national system. Similar to what law enforcement has (NCIS).

Each body system is coded the same so that each treatment is documented and tracked for life. If child has treatment at age 6, that info is documented in national database. At 16, more entries. At 26, while on active duty, again another entry. At 36, vet goes to VA Medical... more »

Recommend to schedule, process, and manage virtually (via “Virtual Docket”) all Veterans hearings that are requested before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Currently the BVA processes over 18,500 hearings annually.

The anticipated cost saving for the government is an estimate three million dollars.

The BVA relies upon the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 57 Regional Offices (ROs) to schedule BVA Video and... more »