GAO: Problems in veterans care remain

[Soldier4Christ]

GAO: Problems in veterans care remain

Federal investigators say they're still seeing long-standing problems in the care of U.S. veterans, despite months of review by several congressional panels.

Among other findings, the General Accountability Office reports that staffing shortages kept nearly half of eligible returning service members from getting personalized Army medical care.

The review also finds there has been little success in speeding up disability payments. Delays remain about 177 days long on average.

The General Accountability Office report is the first early assessment of improvement efforts by the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department since last winter's revelations about shoddy
outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

An Army spokesman says officials are working hard to provide "high-quality medical and mental health care" to U.S. soldiers and veterans. The Army has said it hopes to have full staffing of
medical-care units by January. The VA has said it's hiring 1,100 new processors to reduce backlogs.