Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Version 8 May 2015 Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee Interim Study Topics 1

JOINT TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS INTERIM COMMITTEE Priority #: 3 Veterans' Commission 1) Review statewide veterans' services that assist veterans with VA disability and pension claims; 2) Review military and veteran specialty license plates, including the authorizing statutes, eligibility criteria and the approval process; and 3) Study private sector protections for hiring and giving veterans' preference. and 4) Utilization / benefit of veterans' service officers. [Modified by Management Council] 2

With Your Permission…. Priority #: 3 Veterans' Commission Combine 1) and 4) 1) Review statewide veterans' services that assist veterans with VA disability and pension claims; and 4) Utilization / benefit of veterans' service officers. [Modified by Management Council] As modified… 1) Review statewide veterans' services that assist veterans with VA disability and pension claims; utilization / benefit of veterans' service officers. 3

Wyoming Veterans Commission VA Transformation Impact on Wyoming Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)  Electronic claims processed in real time to VA data systems from service officers in the field  Data driven decisions and metrics – continuous improvement  National work cue – electronic files moved to least busy work centers  Work load managed at the national level Veterans Health Administration (VHA)  Veteran centric “ MyVA ” processes being developed  Choice Act – live more than 40 road miles from a VA facility  Many other health care related initiatives 4

Wyoming Veterans Commission Veterans Service Officers Assist Veterans and their family members with:  State and Federal Veterans benefits  Applications for VA healthcare  Disability compensation and pension claims Required to navigate the most complex process in the federal government through local advocacy 5

Wyoming Veterans Commission Why a qualified Veterans Service Officer ?  National training at least once a year  VA accredited – written test  Ongoing quarterly professional development  Ongoing evaluation and appraisals  Trusted partner based on proficiency  A calling to serve Veterans  Most Veterans who go this alone…abandon the process 6

Wyoming Veterans Commission Personal Representation  VA considers them the…attorney in fact  Three organizations in Wyoming offer this service  The American Legion  The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)  Disabled American Veterans (DAV)  They provide complete claims service to the Veteran and the Wyoming Veterans Commission  Wyoming Veterans Commission cannot currently provide complete claims service on its’ own 7

Wyoming Veterans Commission What Wyoming Agencies Have Service Officers? Counties – Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, Sublette  Started this work prior to the state  Funded by counties Private / State – Johnson and Sheridan counties  Funded by private foundation State – 17 remaining counties  7 service officers and program manager  State general funds Non-Profit – The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, The Veterans of Foreign Wars 8

Wyoming Veterans Commission Proven Success at the State Level Based on federal fiscal year Lag time of at least 6 months from submission to tracking award 2012 Total claims 383 2013 Total claims 608 2014 Total claims 966 2015 Total Claims to date - 797 claims (as of April 2015) 2015 total claims projected: 1,370 Federal dollars returned in Calendar Year 2014 - $4.8 Million Federal Dollars (Year to Date) Calendar Year 2015 - $6.1 Million Dollars directly to the Veteran’s back pocket! 9

Wyoming Veterans Commission County Level Operations Uinta County 1) Desires to participate in joint operations at all levels 2) Standardize training, information sharing, quality control 3) Have adopted cloud based claim submission 4) Consultations needed to determine specific actions 5) WVC will require an MOU/MOA to proceed 6) Task Force recommendation to continue discussions with Tri-County Veterans Services – possible joint operations? 10

Wyoming Veterans Commission County Level Operations Tri-County Veterans Services (Lincoln, Sublette, and Sweetwater Counties) 1) Interest in joint operations 2) Standardize training, cloud based claim submission, information sharing, quality control 3) WVC will require an MOU/MOA to proceed 11

Wyoming Veterans Commission Supplementary Funding to Service Organizations WVC provides supplemental funding to The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to ensure their service offices in Cheyenne remain viable. Supplemental funding provided to ensure complete claims service and limits the growth of state government. 3 full time state employees would be needed if this funding did not exist. $25,000 per organization per year contract supplemental funding began in July 2012. $75,000 Total. $35,000 per organization per year contract supplemental funding continued in July 2013. $105,000 Total. Amended The American Legion supplemental funding to $50,000 for enhanced services. 12

Wyoming Veterans Commission Supplementary Funding to Service Organizations Per the Joint Appropriations Committee guidance, performance based contracting implemented in July 2014 based on 2013 performance. $150,000 in Governor’s budget approved by legislature for this biennium, supplemented by $75,000 from WVC budget Current Funding for 2014 $50,000 per year for The American Legion ($15,000 of this for enhanced services) $35,000 per year for the DAV $13,500 per year for the VFW ($21,500 held in reserve pending improved performance) 13

Wyoming Veterans Commission Snapshot of Wyoming January 2015 Service Organizations WVC In House VA Total American Legion 55 20 75 DAV 55 22 77 VFW 14 7 21 VA 60 60 Total 124 49 60 233 Typical month is 180 – 220 total claims 233 Total claims for the month 124 Claims submitted by WVC WVC responsible for 53% of all claims submitted Typically 50 – 60% of total claims These Veterans are now entitled to VA healthcare Medicare costs avoided 14

July 1, 2015 BVA VBA Service Organizations At VARO State Presence at VARO Post Service Officer County Service Officer State Service Officer VBA – Veterans Benefit Administration Veteran BVA – Board of Veteran’s Appeals 15

Wyoming Veterans Commission Supplementary Funding to Service Organizations Funding for 2015 VFW – No supplemental funding DAV – No supplemental funding (National DAV model dictates they stand alone) The American Legion – reduced funding back to $35,000 level State contract employee at VA’s Regional Office 16

Wyoming Veterans Commission Biennium Budget Request $200,000 (Increase of $50,000) State contract employee at VA’s Regional Office Supplementary funding for The American Legion Potential Issues Counties reduce funding their own programs Service Organizations funding their Service Offices 17

Wyoming Veterans Commission Review of Military and Veteran Specialty License Plates Interim Study Topic - Review military and veteran specialty license plates, including the authorizing statutes, eligibility criteria and the approval process Chart produced in 2013, updated as a result of 2015 Legislative Session Joint application approved in 2013 by County Treasurers, WYDOT, WVC Potential Courses of Action  No changes to current procedures  Consolidate application process in a single office  Allow approval in all offices Factors Affecting Courses of Action  Assume no increase in personnel or funding  Assume Force Protection Condition will limit access to WVC offices Recommendation  No changes to current procedures 18

Wyoming Veterans Commission Back-up Slides National Level Issues VA Transformation Wyoming Statutory Requirements VA Disability Compensation Veterans Services Task Force Veterans Service Officers in Wyoming Process Review 19

Wyoming Veterans Commission National Level Issues  Backlog of disability and pension claims  Some Veterans waiting more than 2 years  Incomplete ratings and decisions  Veterans dying while awaiting decisions  Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) making progress… …much work to be done  Previously had minimal impact on Wyoming  Considerable impact on Wyoming moving forward 20

Veterans Benefit Administration’s (VBA) workload has risen dramatically since 2009 21

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Growth in compensation recipients and medical issues GWOT BDD claimed continues to rise 99% 17 16.2 GWOT IDES Percent of Living Veterans Receiving 100% 16 Compensation by War Era 15 14.1 14 Average Issues Claimed GWOT 13 44.3% 11.6 Gulf War 12 26.4% 10.5 10.5 11 9.5 10 Vietnam 9 20.2% 7.1 8 Korean 10.2% 6.4 7 5.9 WWII 6 11.7% 4.6 5 3.9 3.8 4 2.9 4.6 2.5 3 3.6 3.6 3.4 2 2.6 1 1.4 1.7 - 23 Total Issues Service Connected Non-Service Connected Total Issues