IBM to develop online claims processing for VA

WASHINGTON, USA: US Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to develop an automated, online system for handling Veterans' disability compensation claims.

As part of the implementation of the new claims system, VA has awarded a $9.1 million development contract to information technology giant IBM.

88

The IBM team will work closely with VA developers and will implement the online application system by November, permitting Veterans easier and faster access to VA and more accurate and quick claims processing for the initial set of qualifying conditions.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said that more than a simple digitization of existing paper-based claims, the new system is part of VA's modernization of the end-to-end processing workflow. Automation will substantially reduce processing time and increase accuracy while simplifying the way that Veterans interact with the claims process.

“This new program accelerates our effort to eliminate the claims backlog through automation and modernization of our systems. It's another step in transforming VA into a 21st Century department that better serves our Veterans,” said Shinseki.

“Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) has been advocating for substantial process change in adjudicating Veterans' claims for many years," said Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs of VVA. "We're very pleased to see that this Administration is taking on the problem of claims processing head on.”

He said this automated program would make a big difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Veterans.

In the initial configuration, VA estimates the new system may assist as many as 100,000 Veterans