(Newswire.net — December 31, 2018) — News reports broke in July of 2018 that the Department of Veterans Affairs spent nearly $10 million forcing veterans to go through unnecessary testing and medical examinations in order to continue receiving their benefits. Further investigation reveals that as much as $101 million could be wasted from similar testing over the next five years.
The “re-examinations” in question affected nearly 20,000 disabled veterans and forced them to submit for follow-up medical texting to verify whether their disabilities were still present, remained the same, or if they had diminished or worsened.
Re-examinations are important components of the way the VA operates to prevent fraud and be responsible caretakers of tax dollars entrusted to them. However, the 20,000 disabled veterans in question should have been exempted from re-examinations based on other qualifying criteria.
There is a process in place by which the VA is required to review the claim of each veteran before bringing him or her in for follow-up exams.
This review did not happen for roughly 78 percent of the 20,000 veterans called in for unwarranted re-examinations. For example, the presence of a permanent disability showing no signs of improvement would have exempted any patients over the age of 55 from re-examinations.
The reviews would have costed the VA substantially less than the costly medical examinations provided to veterans without putting disabled veterans through the hardship of coming into VA facilities to have the testing and examinations conducted.
Why does this matter? Few families throughout the country, and in Tennessee, do not have someone they know and love serving in the military. It’s important to feel that Uncle Sam has their backs if something happens to them, causing a disability, during that service. Moore & Hedges, serves as a tireless advocate for veterans of all branches of service who have been disabled during or because of their duties to their country.
For families of soldiers harmed in the line of duty, the added burden of unnecessary testing can be difficult and costly. Watchdog organizations, like the one who initially reported on the 20,000 soldiers required to submit to unwarranted re-examinations lead to actions as the VA assures the public that it will take steps now to improve the review process to eliminate unwarranted testing.