Two Bills Aim To Expedite Benefits For Veterans

Citing frustration that veterans in New York wait on average 400 days for the start of benefits, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pushing two bills to speed things up.

The Servicemember's Electronic Health Records Act of 2013, led by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), would require the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to implement fully interoperable electronic health record systems between the two agencies within one year of the bill's passage.

Rep. Christopher Gibson (R-N.Y.) has introduced a similar bill setting deadlines for interoperability in the U.S. House.

Schumer said he also backs the Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2013, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), which would require hiring more claims processors and hold the VA accountable by requiring it to publicly report its monthly goals in reducing the backlog and progress toward those goals.