A government program’s clunky modernization and hiring challenges are preventing it from providing timely service to disabled veterans living or traveling overseas, according to a report released Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Foreign Medical Program, which provides healthcare benefits to veterans with service-related disabilities living or traveling abroad, is struggling to meet program goals under an increasing demand for services.
The program has a goal of processing 90% of claims within 45 days, but in fiscal year 2024, it reported processing less than 40% of claims within that time. In its review of the program, the U.S. Government Accountability Office attributed some of the program’s inertia to its still issuing paper checks and difficulties filling open positions.
