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VA SECRETARY NICHOLSON IS WILLING TO TRY AUTOMATIC

APPROVAL FOR CLAIMS -- Would be on trial basis,

only apply to initial claims and could force veterans

to repay VA if claim is later reduced or denied.

 

Prof. Linda Bilmes

 

The concept of automatic VA claims approval was proposed by Harvard professor Linda Bilmes.  The original article is here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/
nfJAN07/nf010607-1.htm

Then, Bilmes testified before Congress, garnering lots of attention in the veterans' community.  That article here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/
nfMAR07/nf031407-3.htm

For more about Linda Bilmes, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch
.php?q=bilmes&op=and

Some people call this "The I.R.S. Option"...because the I.R.S. accepts your tax return and then audits it for accuracy.

However, the I.R.S. is collecting money and the VA is distributing money.  There's major difference.

Another problem I see here is that Nicholson is leaving office soon, so what he says means very little.

The thrust behind this concept is to speed up benefits for those transitioning from the military to VA healthcare and need the benefits NOW.

But, there must be a better way to speed up the process.

I see nothing but trouble with this...especially for those who get an automatic approval and then have the compensation reduced or denied.  They would have to pay it back.

And, I just don't see Congress accepting this and acting on it.

Today's story here... http://www.navytimes.
com/news/2007/07/military_nic
holson_claims_070726w/

Story below:

-------------------------

Nicholson backs new benefits claims system

By Rick Maze - Staff writer

In a Wednesday interview taped for C-SPAN’s Newsmakers program, which will air Sunday, Nicholson said he was willing, on a trial basis, to try to tackle the large and growing backlog of disability claims with a program that would assume anyone who filed for compensation deserves the payment. After the first check is issued, a claim could be reviewed, with the possibility that payments could be adjusted, Nicholson said.

 

To read the rest of the story...click here...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/
military_nicholson_claims_070726w/

-------------------------

Larry Scott  --