SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Turn the VA into more of an HMO and let the Veterans decide where and who they go to for Medical Treatment as a result of service. This will have the ability to save literally HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars a year.

Currently, the Social Security Administration makes a disability determination to determine if an individual should receive SSA disability benefits. In addtion, the Veterans Administration makes a disability determination to determine if an individual should receive VA benefits. Two separate processes to arrive at similar decisions. While there are some differences in the two processes, these differences could be reconciled... more »

Rapid Respose from FEMA.
Local Employment Construction Opportunity.
Base-sites in communities (e.g. Inexpensive warehouse design, eg. Walgreens size) that are multi-use and spread across the National Rail system to house, treat and/or evacuate populace on a temporary short term basis for a few days before, during or after a disaster event. FEMA heavy resources respond to each location within 6 hours via freight rail utilizing... more »

Military is like family to many veterans. Discharge leads to isolation and deepens depression. Giving vets people to report to and tasks daily will help self esteem and morale.

 

Service organizations could sponser these units and possible provide community muster points and barracks.

Require Federal and State agencies make use of the Social Security Administration “Federal Benefit/Prisoner Data Exchange System” to:
(1) provide SSA with prisoner information necessary to identify ineligible persons (e.g., Life and Death Sentences);
(2) determine eligibility for burial in the National Cemetery System or the Arlington National Cemetery;
(3) ensure timely notice is provided to appropriate Federal official... more »

Currently a disabled Veteran can receive disability benefits from 3 agencies - VA, DOD, and Social Security. Need to overhaul the disability payment systems to ensure that the right amount of payment is provided which is difficult since we have 3 agencies responsible to address the payments for our veterans. Why not only 1 agency - the VA manage all veterans disability payments. This will ensure Veterans receive accurate... more »