Rao bulletin 1 October 2014 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles
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- VA * VA Appointments Update 11
- How to File a VA Claim Update 02: New Process | New forms
- VA Whistleblowers Update 08 ► OIG Investigation White Wash Alleged
- VA Whistleblowers Update 09 ► Retaliation Complaints Double
- Posters such as this one have popped up in offices across the VA
- VA Whistleblower Scott Davis and Daphne Ivery, president of the local union unit at the Health Eligibility Enrollment Center in Atlanta
- VA Physician Salaries ► $20K to $30K Annual Increases Coming
- VA Loans ► Six Easy Step to a VA Loan
- DO make sure the lender is VA-approved.
- DO ask the loan officer if he or she services VA mortgages on a daily basis.
- DO read the warning signs.
- DON’T assume all VA-approved lenders are the same.
- DON’T believe everything you hear.
- DON’T be strong-armed into a choice.
Vietnam - None Korea The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 17 SEP that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. Arthur Richardson, 28, of Fall River, Mass., will be buried Sept. 18 in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. In January 1951, Richardson and elements of Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment (IR), 24th Infantry Division (ID), were deployed northeast of Seoul, South Korea, where they were attacked by enemy forces. During the attempt to delay the enemy forces from advancing, Richardson and his unit were moving towards a more defensible position, when his unit suffered heavy losses. It was during this attack that Richardson was reported missing. When no further information pertaining to Richardson was received and he failed to return to U.S. control during prisoner exchanges, a military review board reviewed his status in 1954, and changed it from missing in action to presumed dead. In 1956, his remains were declared unrecoverable. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of human remains believed to contain more than 400 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where Richardson was believed to have died. In the identification of Richardson's remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and Armed Forces DNA Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, to include mitochondrial DNA, which matched his niece and grand-niece. World War II
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ Sep 28, 2014 ++] * VA * 
VA Appointments Update 11 ► New Scheduling System in 6-Years The Department of Veterans Affairs will not install a new patient scheduling system to all of its 153 hospitals and 50,000 users until 2020, according to contract documents released last week. VA views a new patient scheduling system as key to resolving problems that have consigned veterans to a waiting list limbo for months or years. In July, acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson told the House Veterans Affairs committee the new scheduling system would be deployed in 2016. The new timeline for the patient scheduling system, released last week, said VA expects to deploy an “Alpha” version to the first 300 users at two hospitals in 2016. That would be followed by a beta version to 700 users at five hospitals in 2017 and installation at all 153 hospitals in 2020. Last month, VA said it would issue an RFP for the patient scheduling system by the end of this month, with bids due in 30 days. VA said it intends to buy commercial software, so why, oh, why, will it take six years to field it? [Source: NextGov.com | Bob Brewin | Sept. 26, 2014 ++] ******************************** How to File a VA Claim Update 02: New Process | New forms The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 24 SEP that it is introducing a uniformed disability claims form to better serve Veterans, families and survivors. Standardizing the process by which Veterans file claims and initiate appeals will make it easier for Veterans and their survivors to clearly state what benefits they are seeking from VA and provide information that is necessary to process their claims and appeals. The new forms eliminate applicant guesswork, which often leads to delays in decisions and ultimately delays in receiving benefits. The new regulations go into effect in late March 2015. “We must do everything that we can to make it as fast and easy as possible for Veterans and their survivors to file for and receive an accurate decision on their claim,” said VA Secretary Robert McDonald. “Our Veterans and survivors will know, at the outset of the claims process, what is needed, which removes subjective interpretation from the process. We want to eliminate any barriers that make it difficult for our Veterans or survivors to receive benefits to which they are entitled.” In the past, a Veteran or survivor did not have to use a certain form to seek compensation or other benefits from VA. Claims or appeals (Notice of Disagreement) could be submitted on any piece of paper which caused delays due to missing information. By using standard forms for all disability claims, VA can more quickly and accurately identify what the Veteran is claiming or appealing. This will allow VA to immediately move on to next steps in the evidence-gathering and decision-making process, which saves administrative processing time and speeds the delivery of earned benefits. The existing process is also inconsistent with most, if not all, other government and non-government application processes, such as applying for social security, applying for a driver’s license, applying for a job or filing for an income tax refund. “These days, government agencies and private businesses rely on standard forms to deliver faster and more accurate customer service,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “VA’s ability to deliver better customer service requires the use of standard forms as well. That is why we worked extensively with our partners in the Veterans community to streamline the way we process claims while preserving the effective date rules concerning informal claims through the creation of a new intent to file a claim process.” The updated process also includes standardizing the traditional informal claims process by employing a new “Intent to File a Claim” process which affords the Veteran or survivor one year to compile the necessary documentation or evidence to support the claim while preserving an effective date of claim. More information about VA Forms 21-526EZ, 21-527EZ, 21-534EZ or VA Form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement, may be found at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov or http://www.va.gov/vaforms. The forms which can be completed online and downloaded for signature and mailing are:
[Source: VA News Release Sept. 24, 2014 ++] ******************************** VA Whistleblowers Update 08 ► OIG Investigation White Wash Alleged The main whistleblower in the scandal involving the Department of Veterans Affairs has asked for an independent review of delays in care at the Phoenix VA, calling the recent investigation by the Office of Inspector General a "whitewash." Dr. Sam Foote, a retired Phoenix VA doctor who testified before Congress on 17 SEP, says the VA's inspector general has downplayed the way in which employee manipulations of patient wait times contributed to deaths. "In my opinion, this was a conspiracy, possibly criminal, perpetrated by senior Phoenix leaders," Foote said in his prepared testimony. "The Inspector General tries to minimize the damage done and the culpability of those involved by stating that none of the deaths can conclusively be tied to treatment delays." The report released by the inspector general in August (http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/26/us/va-inspector-general-report/index.html) states that no deaths at the Phoenix VA could be "conclusively" linked to long wait times. CNN has learned the VA's inspector general told congressional officials in a private briefing in August that 293 veterans died while waiting for care, though the deaths were not said to be caused by delays. That information was not included in the IG report released a few days later. Instead, the report described how 28 veterans had "clinically significant delays" in care, six of whom died. Foote said the number of veterans who died vastly exceeds his original allegations that 40 veterans died while waiting for care at the Phoenix VA. VA inspectors say Phoenix was in total 'chaos' and warn of more risk. You can read the full OIG report at http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-14-02603-267.pdf. Ahead of Wednesday's congressional hearing, the Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin defended the recent investigation but said the report cannot adequately express the personal losses involved. "Our recent report cannot capture the personal disappointment, frustration and loss of faith of individual veterans and their family members with a health care system that often could not respond to their physical and mental health needs in a timely manner," Griffin said. A copy of Griffin’s written statement to the HVAC “Scheduling Manipulation and Veteran Death in Phoenix: Examination of the OIG’s final Report” Hearing is available at http://www.va.gov/OIG/pubs/statements/VAOIG-statement-20140917-griffin.pdf. To view the entire 5 hour hearing go to http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/scheduling-manipulation-and-veteran-deaths-in-phoenix-examination-of-the-oig%E2%80%99s-final-report House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) released a statement after the hearing saying, "The confirmation from IG officials today that delays in VA medical care contributed to the deaths of Phoenix-area veterans and IG officials' admission that they couldn't rule out the possibility that delays caused deaths changes the entire bottom line of the IG's Phoenix report. Absent these qualifying statements, the OIG's previous assertions that it could not 'conclusively assert' that delays caused deaths are completely misleading." Miller also said it was "absolutely inexplicable and outrageous that the IG's Phoenix report failed to clearly make these distinctions. While I am pleased IG officials finally cleared up these glaring inconsistencies, I regret that they only did so several weeks after the release of the Phoenix report and after hours of intense questioning. Getting the whole story out of inspectors general should not be this difficult." Miller interrogated Griffin about changes to the August report and about whether House members were given early drafts. If the inspector general did not like being challenged, Miller added, that was "tough." For more than a year, CNN has been investigating and reporting on veterans' deaths and delays at VA facilities all across the country, including detailed investigations in November and January 2013 examining deaths at two VA facilities in South Carolina and Georgia. Foote first appeared on CNN in April, with detailed allegations that as many as 40 American veterans had died in Phoenix, waiting for care at the VA. After Foote's revelations about Phoenix, numerous other whistleblowers stepped forward with similar charges of veterans' waiting for care and possible deaths of veterans who were waiting. The VA's inspector general opened investigations at 93 sites of care in response to allegations of wait time manipulations. To date, 12 investigations have been completed but 81 remain active and are being coordinated with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as appropriate. In May, after reports of patients dying while waiting for care at the Phoenix VA, Secretary Eric Shinseki was forced to step down. Robert McDonald was appointed this summer to take over the agency. [Source: CNN Politics | Curt Devine, Scott Bronstein & Patricia DiCarlo, CNN Investigations Unit | Sept. 17, 2014 ++] ******************************** VA Whistleblowers Update 09 ► Retaliation Complaints Double Complaints of retaliation against whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs more than doubled in recent months, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis, and one of the highest profile VA whistleblowers claims he and the chief witness in his case have been subjected to retaliation in Atlanta. The new claims from whistleblower Scott Davis, who testified before Congress in July, and the sharp increase in complaints from other VA whistleblowers to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel raise doubt about whether VA Secretary Robert McDonald can deliver on a pledge to end a hostile environment for employees who report trouble at the scandal-plagued agency. Since June, the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower claims from most of the federal bureaucracy, has received more than 80 new cases from VA employees alone, bringing the total number of active VA investigations the agency is pursuing to 125, by far the most of any federal agency. “Our committee continues to receive reports of possible retaliation against whistleblowers to this day,” Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, told the AJC in a strongly worded statement. “Until VA officials at all levels take aggressive action to fire all managers who have sought to punish employees for exposing fraud, waste and abuse within the system, I have no confidence VA’s shameful treatment of whistleblowers will end any time soon.” Davis testified before Miller’s committee in early July that he and other whislteblowers faced retaliation at the Health Eligibility Center in Atlanta, which processes veteran claims for health care access. He testified about contract mismanagement, a backlog of hundreds of thousands of pending health applications and the possible improper deletion of 10,000 others. 
Posters such as this one have popped up in offices across the VA Posters such as this one have popped up in offices across the VA, including the national Health Eligibility Center in Atlanta. VA Secretary Robert McDonald is trying to change the culture of retaliation against VA employees. × Since then, Davis said he’s received emails and communications from VA threatening disciplinary action and demands that he sign-away his rights to speak freely — all actions he views as harassment. More troubling, perhaps, Davis’ chief witness told the AJC that she’s now been retaliated against for supporting Davis and testifying in five investigations, including two by the VA’s Office of Inspector General. Melissa Mason, a management/program analyst, said she faced written disciplinary action this month by a supervisor at the Health Eligibility Center — the first time she’s been reprimanded in a 29-year career with the VA. “I knew they would come after me,” said Mason, who has provided emails to backup her claims but declined to comment on the case in detail. Since taking command of the VA in late July, Secretary Robert McDonald has promised that retaliation against whistleblowers will not be tolerated. Before the House committee 17 SEP McDonald said that in his first two months on the job the agency reinforced a commitment to whistleblower protections and had begun building a culture that encourages constructive dissent. “I can understand at this moment in time whistleblowers who have been retaliated against are skeptical as to whether I mean what I say or whether I can deliver what I say,” McDonald said. Davis and other whistleblowers interviewed by the AJC say not much has changed under McDonald. In the past year, Davis said he’s been threatened with termination, had his employee records altered illegally, been transferred, had his character defamed, and had his personal medical records released to unauthorized members of management. The senior leaders who have overseen this retaliation are all still in place, he said.  
VA Whistleblower Scott Davis and Daphne Ivery, president of the local union unit at the Health Eligibility Enrollment Center in Atlanta Daphne Ivery, the union president at the Health Eligibility Center, said she has knowledge of 12 investigations at the center conducted by the inspector general’s office in less than two years. She said she laughed when wall flyers appeared recently proclaiming whistleblower rights after rumors circulated that McDonald or his top deputy would visit Atlanta. The flyers were viewed by many as just more show for the new big boss in Washington, she said. As union rep, Ivery observes many of the investigative interviews at the center conducted by the inspector general or other investigative bodies. She said she’s seen managers harass and retaliate against employees after they testify. Some employees face job assignment transfers or are suddenly written up for disciplinary actions after otherwise exemplary performance evaluations. Employees, she said, know they will likely face retaliation, but they get tired of seeing the system fail veterans while managers fail to correct the problems. “Whistleblowing is not for the faint at heart,” she said. “Once you do, it comes hot and it comes heavy. This is not something you do thinking you’re going to get ticker tape parade. You do it knowing you may lose your livelihood. You do because what’s going on is so egregious you can’t let it go on anymore.” [Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Brad Schrade | Sept. 25, 2014 ++] ******************************** VA Physician Salaries ► $20K to $30K Annual Increases Coming Due to a three-year federal pay freeze, the annual pay ranges for VA physicians and dentists haven’t increased since October 2009. The Veterans Affairs Department wants to increase the annual salaries of new physicians and dentists by up to $35,000 as part of a nationwide recruitment effort to hire more doctors and improve veterans’ access to care. The change, which the department announced 17 SEP, would update existing pay tables for several categories of physicians in the Veterans Health Administration, enabling newly hired doctors to potentially earn between $20,000 and $35,000 more than the current salary ranges. The pay ranges for physicians who serve in leadership roles, including department undersecretaries and VA medical center directors, would not change. The notice outlining the new policy will be published 18 SEP in the Federal Register and will take effect on 30 NOV. “We are committed to hiring more medical professionals across the country to better serve veterans and expand their access to timely, high-quality care,” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald, in a statement. 
McDonald told reporters last week during a press conference that he’s worried about the department’s ability to recruit and retain a talented workforce as it recovers from a major scandal and reinvents itself to better serve the country’s vets. He said the department needs new doctors, nurses and clinicians for 28,000 jobs authorized by Congress in the 2014 Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. That law was passed in response to several whistleblower allegations that VA employees falsified documents related to patient care and has sparked a department wide management reform and public relations effort that McDonald hopes will improve services and rebuild the VA’s trust with veterans. VA has seven pay tables for physicians and dentists with different levels or “tiers” that include a salary range for positions in those categories. Each pay table corresponds to a specialty within the medical field, or a specific executive position. Pay Table 1, for example, covers a range of medical specialties, including allergy and immunology, geriatrics, psychiatry and general practice dentistry. The current annual pay range for Pay Table 1, Tier 1 is $98,967 to $195,000. Under VA’s proposed increase, the maximum yearly salary for new physicians and dentists covered in that category would jump to $215,000. For those in Pay Table 3, which includes noninvasive cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology and oral surgery, the maximum salary for Tier 1 would increase $35,000—from $265,000 to $300,000. Of course, reaching the maximum pay in each range depends on a doctor’s skill sets, and is not guaranteed. “With more competitive salaries for physicians and dentists, VHA is in a position to attract and hire the best and brightest to treat veterans,” said Dr. Carolyn Clancy, interim undersecretary for health. It’s unclear how the pay changes could affect the morale or retention of current doctors and dentists. There are more than 40 physician and dentist specialties in the VA system, and more than 25,000 doctors and dentists who work for the department. In crafting the new pay ranges, department officials looked at salary survey data that most closely resembled the VA in terms of environment. The pay increase for new hires is one part of a wide-ranging VA recruitment effort. The department also plans to collaborate with nursing schools on psychiatric and mental health to strengthen relationships between academia and VA facilities, expand the loan repayment program, and augment a pilot program to bring in combat medics and corpsmen as clinicians at the VA. For a comparison of the current salary ranges for each pay table and VA’s recommended increases click on http://www.govexec.com/media/gbc/docs/pdfs_edit/091714kl1.pdf. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | Sept. 17, 2014 ++] ******************************** VA Loans ► Six Easy Step to a VA Loan The VA mortgage process can seem hard at first. But, if you take it one step at a time, you could be a homeowner sooner than you think. A VA mortgage can be up to a 30-year commitment, so the terms of your loan need to match your financial goals. Choosing the right VA-approved lender can make a big difference in your mortgage experience and outcome. To help you with this important first step toward homeownership, here are some “dos” and “don’ts” to consider when selecting your lender. 
1. DO make sure the lender is VA-approved. Not all mortgage lenders have approval from the VA to originate and fund loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If you plan to use your home loan benefits, the lender you use must be VA-approved. That’s a basic requirement. To find out if a lender meets that criterion, be sure to ask if they originate VA home loans before you start the application process. If you skip this step, you may end up well into the mortgage application process before you find out that a VA loan isn’t an option with your lender. 2. DO ask the loan officer if he or she services VA mortgages on a daily basis. Asking this one question can separate the occasional VA lender from one that specializes in VA loans. Many approved lenders originate a variety of mortgage loans, with only a very small ratio of them being veterans’ loans. A specialist makes VA loans day in and day out. Although any approved lender can process your loan, one that intimately understands the lender’s guidelines may be able to achieve success where other lenders may fail. To read about two Colonels who were able to purchase their dream retirement home when others said “NO,” click here. 3. DO read the warning signs. Certain red flags could indicate that your lender may not be as experienced in these government-backed loans as you’d like them to be. Here are some warning signs to look for:
4. DON’T assume all VA-approved lenders are the same. Not all VA-approved lenders are created equal. Some are more experienced in serving veterans than others. VA loan specialists process VA loans on a daily basis. The loan officers are very familiar with the guidelines and, more often than not, handle special situations unique to the military community. These can include repeat use of home loan benefits, frequent relocations due to PCS and military retirement. One way to gauge experience of a VA-approved lender is to look for good ratings with reputable organizations like the Better Business Bureau. Another is to consider the number of years in business. 5. DON’T believe everything you hear. Misconceptions can get passed along when someone is not 100% informed about the VA Loan Guaranty program. Just ask Major Tim Lewis, 23-year Army veteran. “When I was ready to buy my first home, I wanted to use my VA loan benefits but my real estate agent talked me out of it,” says Lewis. His real estate broker had heard horror stories about the VA loan process and advised him to go with an FHA loan. He ended up paying mortgage insurance and a down payment. These myths – that the VA loan process takes longer than other loans; that multiple VA loans aren’t possible; that you can’t buy a home while overseas – keep eligible borrowers from using their hard-earned benefits. “I can’t tell you how many times a borrower’s been told they’re not eligible for a VA loan when they really are,” says Lewis. In reality, you may be able to use your VA home loan benefits over and over again, and, in certain situations, it’s possible to own two homes at a time. Interest rates are competitive with national rates, approval requirements are generally straightforward and there are exceptions to the occupancy guidelines if you are serving overseas. If you’ve heard something that doesn’t sound quite right, you may want to get a second opinion. 6. DON’T be strong-armed into a choice. Have you ever been told that if your credit is pulled by more than one lender while shopping for a loan that it will hurt your score? Equifax, one of the major credit bureaus, explains on its website that in most cases it won’t. According to the bureau, most credit scores are not affected by multiple inquiries from mortgage lenders within 30 days. In such cases, the multiple inquiries are treated as a single inquiry, having little or no impact on your credit score. If you are feeling pressured early in the process to make a decision about a lender, know that it is your option to investigate the loan products and services of more than one company. A good lender offers honest advice, a decent rate, reasonable fees and excellent customer service. Home loan benefits are earned, and a reputable VA-approved lender can help you understand what they are and how to use them. Contact a VA loan specialist today. [Source: Military.com | Money | Sept. 2014 ++] ******************************** Directory: wp-content -> uploads -> 2014 2014 -> For want of a nail 2014 -> Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2014 2014 -> Ihbb asian Championships 2014 middle school bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> Ihbb european Championships 2014 Bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> International History Bee and Bowl 2013-14 Asian Division Question Set Bowl Round Six 2014 -> United states patent and trademark office 2014 -> Coffs harbour eisteddfod vocal syllabus 2014 -> Listen News Programs Schedule pledge now 2014 -> Slow club announce third album complete surrender Download 479.35 Kb. Share with your friends:
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