VA, DoD eBenefits User Growth Stimulates Veterans’ Access
By - Over five million users participate with the joint Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) eBenefits website, confirms a recent VA press release.
“The successful collaboration of eBenefits and DS Logon is just one more example of how the DoD and VA are working together to continue bringing current and former Service members secure online access to the benefits they've earned,” states Mary Dixon, Director of Defense Manpower Data Center.
VA confirms it reached this milestone early, two months before the close of fiscal year 2015, through “aggressive outreach efforts” and through support from the DoD and Veterans Service Organization partners. There is a strong connection to the number of eBenefits users and the level of VA’s success advancing Veterans’ access to VA benefits and services, VA confirms. Continuous growth in eBenefits website usage validates the significance of providing Veterans with increased access to benefit information, VA adds. eBenefits allows for a variety of tools, such as the ability to message a VA doctor, order prescription drug refills, and obtain official documents.
“Veterans are encouraged to enroll in eBenefits and file their claims online through this one-stop shop for benefits-related tools and information,” states Allison Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits. “We have already implemented nearly 60 self-service features and we continue to expand eBenefits capabilities to give Veterans and Service members greater flexibility in securing their information,” Hickey adds.
Over 7.5 million VA letters have been produced and downloaded. Such letters show disability proof and list income and federal or state government hiring preference, says VA.
“Practically unavoidable” VA data security still a concern?
As HealthITSecurity.com reported, VA has been associated with extensive security issues in the past. VA experienced a security breech last year where the eBenefits website was shut down after a software update exposed the information of over 5,300 veterans. “The VA has seen over 14,000 violations since 2010, affecting over 100,000 veterans. The system has reportedly been hacked by both China and Russia in the same time period. In 2013, the VA failed its 15th consecutive consolidated financial statement audit regarding security,” confirmed HealthITSecurity.com.
“VA has in place a strong, multi-layered defense to combat evolving cybersecurity threats,” said Victoria Dillon, a VA spokesperson, in an email last year to CNBC. “VA is committed to protecting Veteran information, continuing its efforts to strengthen information security, and putting in place the technology and processes to ensure Veteran data at VA are secure,” Dillon adds. But according to HealthITSecurity.com, a future data breech may be “practically unavoidable.”
Regarding more positive news, VA increased the pay of physicians and dentists last year via an increase of up to $30,000 last year, as RevCycleIntelligence.com reported. However, despite efforts to advance VA’s initiatives, four senior VA executives were later fired in relation to a Phoenix Scandal, as RevCycleIntelligence.com additionally confirmed. VA confirmed its commitment to the aggressive pursuance of disciplinary action against those who contradict its values. Nonetheless, it is hopeful positive efforts will overshadow the negative as the VA advances onward.
