VA OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE:
Citing the confusion veterans face when trying
>> to arrange benefits, the House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee
>> passed H.R.2192 on 5 JUN which would create an Ombudsman office within
>> the
>> Veterans Affairs Department (VA). The bill introduced on 7 MAY 07
and
>> sponsored by Rep. Paul Hodes D-NH) was adopted by unanimous voice vote,
>> along with the adoption by voice vote of a substitute amendment from
>> Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Michaud (D-ME).
>> The bill instructs the VA secretary to create an office of the
ombudsman,
>> and designate the head of the office. The office would act as a
one-stop
>> shop for information on benefits administered by the VA, including
>> medical, housing and education. When testifying in support of his bill
>> before the Health Subcommittee on 14 JUN 07, Hodes said the VA has
>> separate hotlines for different benefits, and the process can be
>> confusing
>> to veterans returning from overseas. Michaud's substitute amendment
>> expanded the duties of the new office. Under the amendment, the VA
>> secretary will designate an ombudsman director in each of the
>> department's
>> three administrations, health, benefits and cemeteries. The ombudsman
>> director in each administration will report to the head ombudsman. The
>> amendment also defines the official duties of the office of the
ombudsman
>> as providing patient advocacy and problem resolution, provide
assistance
>> in understanding benefits, provide information on claims submissions,
and
>> field complaints from veterans.
>> The VA secretary will also designate six regional ombudsmen throughout
>> the
>> United States for both the health and benefits administrations.
However,
>> the VA does not support the bill. VA Undersecretary for Health Michael
>> Kussman testified at the Health Subcommittee hearing on the bill that
it
>> would create an unnecessary level of bureaucracy within the VA. Kussman
>> added the VA already has officers such as patient advocates and benefit
>> counselors, and many state level veterans departments also have
>> counselors. The bill currently has 43 cosponsors. [Source: Congress
Daily
>> Andy Leonatti article 9 Jun 08 ++]