Bill Overview
Title: Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan for the modernization of the information technology systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration over the next five fiscal years.
Sponsors: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals receiving or eligible for veterans' benefits
Estimated Size: 18000000
- The bill focuses on modernizing information technology systems for the Veterans Benefits Administration.
- Modernizing these systems is intended to improve processing and management of veterans' benefits, likely directly affecting those who apply for or receive benefits.
- All veterans who are eligible or who currently receive benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration will be impacted.
- The modernization may affect VA staff as well, due to changes in technology and processes.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is veterans who are either receiving or eligible to receive benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration.
- Modernization of IT systems is likely to improve the efficiency and accuracy of benefit processing, potentially increasing their Cantril wellbeing scores for affected individuals due to reduced stress and faster service.
- The estimated number of people involved is approximately 18 million, focusing on those most directly impacted by changes to benefits administration.
- The policy may also indirectly affect families of veterans and employees of the VA who work with these systems.
- Budget constraints mean that the solution must be highly effective and well-targeted to produce significant benefits per dollar spent.
- It's essential to consider feedback not only from those who directly interact with the system but also from veterans who may not seek benefits due to current inefficiencies, as well as VA staff.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Army (Dallas, TX)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The current system often delays my disability checks.
- I usually have to wait a long time for updates or changes to my benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
VA Benefits Adviser (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An updated IT system would make my job easier and more efficient.
- Currently dealing with veteran frustration due to slow systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard to get timely information about changes to my pension.
- I often feel anxious about whether benefits will arrive on time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The modernization effort will create new job opportunities.
- I see potential to apply my skills in helping veterans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran Affairs Case Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The work can be frustrating due to outdated technology.
- I hope this will reduce personal and professional stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Navy Reserve Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't used the VA system yet but hope it will be seamless when needed.
- Easier access to services would influence my future decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Marine Corps (New York, NY)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The anticipated improvements could ease the frustration of scheduling appointments.
- Looking forward to fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Registered Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A modern system could improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- Current tech problems slow down treatment processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
IT Manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I anticipate project management challenges but also advancements.
- Successful implementation could serve as a model for other public agencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Entrepreneur (Denver, CO)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessing benefits has been cumbersome for our family.
- Streamlining could prevent other families from facing the same issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The actual cost may vary based on the IT solutions selected and implementation efficiency.
- Potential savings depend on specific efficiency gains achieved through modernization.
- This initiative may set a precedent for other department modernizations.