VA to test paperless claims system in R.I.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected its regional benefits office in Providence, R.I. to test a paperless system and new procedures to improve processing of Veterans’ claims for disability compensation to support VA’s transformation of the claims process for Veterans, their families and their survivors.

The pilot, which initially focuses on compensation benefits, is expected to start at the Providence facility in November, with completion in May 2011. According to VA, additional pilots are expected before the new claims system is deployed to all 57 VA regional benefits offices.

The Providence pilot is part of the Veterans Benefits Management System, coming after completion of the Virtual Regional Office project collocated at the Baltimore regional office in May where VA brought claims processors from around the country to Baltimore to assist in the prototyping of a demonstration system.

VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki has set a goal that VA will process all claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy by 2015.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.