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VA Sets Unprecedented Veteran Care Records Amidst Hiring Boom
Washington D.C. – In a landmark move, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set new standards for veteran care and benefits, thanks to an aggressive hiring campaign throughout the department. The VA’s proactive stance comes in response to the PACT Act of 2022, which broadens healthcare and benefits for veterans affected by toxic exposures during military service.
VA officials have committed to continual workforce expansion to meet the needs of the growing veteran population. Although this year’s hiring won’t match the exceptional numbers of FY 2023, the VA’s dedication to veteran services remains unwavering.
Denis McDonough, VA Secretary, emphasized the department’s accomplishments in 2023 and its ongoing mission to serve veterans fully. The VA’s workforce, referred to as the “promise keepers to vets,” is crucial to ending veteran homelessness and providing toxic-exposure benefits. McDonough asserts that maintaining a workforce proportionate to the mission is a debt owed to these federal employees.
In FY 2023, the VA conducted over 116 million healthcare appointments, surpassing its previous high by 3 million. This milestone reflects the VA’s commitment to meeting the growing call for increased care, as stated by Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) not only exceeded its hiring goals for FY 2023 but also experienced its most significant growth in over a decade. With over 408,000 employees, VHA boasts its largest workforce to date. Looking forward to FY 2024, VHA is honing in on more precise hiring goals, particularly targeting the mental health care professional shortage.
Amid a national scarcity of mental health providers, Elnahal declares that VHA will not be constrained by the present limits but will enhance its training programs to meet and exceed these needs.
The VHA’s commitment is also evident in its 6.5% increase in mental health care appointments in the last year, spanning both in-person and telehealth services. With the incremental growth of its workforce, VHA anticipates serving even more veterans in the coming year.
A substantial effort under the PACT Act involved screening 4.6 million veterans for toxic exposure, a proactive measure in addressing severe health risks. Additionally, the VHA aims to reduce the lengthy vacancy fill time, striving to expedite this process by at least 30 days.
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) celebrated a 20% workforce increase, reaching a 32,000-strong team in FY 2023. With plans to further expand to 36,000 employees by FY 2024, the VBA is on a steady path to enhance veteran services.
Joshua Jacobs, Under Secretary for Benefits, highlights the VBA’s intention to continue its robust hiring trajectory and leverage automated tools for faster and fairer benefit decisions. This initiative has already borne fruit, with VBA processing nearly 2 million disability claims and issuing $163 billion in benefits during FY 2023.
Embracing VHA’s REBOOT task force’s strategies, VBA is also focusing on staff retention and burnout prevention. Finally, the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) maintained its commitment to honoring veterans, providing burial services within 75 miles for 94% of veterans.
This comprehensive hiring strategy not only fortifies the VA’s capacity to deliver exceptional care but also solidifies its role as a leader in federal employment and veteran services.
