VA Streamlining Agent Orange Claims Process
USA Today: "The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to announce today that it will fully automate how it pays claims for illnesses related to exposure to the chemical Agent Orange to keep an overburdened system from collapse. ... VA Secretary Eric Shinseki took office last year and said no disability claim should take longer than four months to process. However, department records show that almost 40% take an average of 161 days to process and that will increase to 190 days without automation The automated claims system will apply only to veterans filing these new Agent Orange claims" (Zoroya, 3/9).This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.