See also: In The Military

VA designs new cards
to protect against fraud

Question: I heard there is a new VA Identification Card that will replace the old red, white and blue card. Do I need to get one and how do I go about it?

Answer: With identity theft as the major fraud reported by Americans in 2003, the VA has designed a new card for veterans. The Veterans Identification Card will have a veteran's photo on the front and identify them as enrollees in the VA's health care system. The card includes the words "service-connected" under the photo if the veteran has a service-connected disability.

The veteran's VA medical history and other information such as their social security number is bar coded on the card. You can request it at the VA medical clinic. The card is processed on the mainland and will be mailed in two weeks. The existing cards will remain valid until veterans receive their new cards. For more information, contact the VA at 433-0600.

Q: Does the VA have a way of measuring the veterans' satisfaction with their health care?

A: An independent study showed veterans gave VA health care a rating of 91 for customer satisfaction on a 100-point scale. The rating system's creator, the American Customer Satisfaction Index, said the results "should be considered a benchmark for federal agencies."

Veterans also gave VA's inpatient hospital services a rating of 84 and outpatient services, such as the VA medical clinic, a rating of 83, compared to private-sector patients giving their health care providers ratings of 79 and 81, respectively. VA also rated 92 in veteran loyalty, meaning that veterans under VA care intend to continue using VA and speak positively to others about their experiences. The report was produced by the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan Business School, the CFI group, and the Federal Consulting Group.

If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.

Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.

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For Your Benefit For and about Hawaii's military See also: In The Military VA designs new cards to protect against fraud Question: I heard there is a new VA Identification Card that will replace the old red, white and blue card. Do I need to get one and how do I go about it? Answer: With identity theft as the major fraud reported by Americans in 2003, the VA has designed a new card for veterans. The Veterans Identification Card will have a veteran's photo on the front and identify them as enrollees in the VA's health care system. The card includes the words "service-connected" under the photo if the veteran has a service-connected disability. The veteran's VA medical history and other information such as their social security number is bar coded on the card. You can request it at the VA medical clinic. The card is processed on the mainland and will be mailed in two weeks. The existing cards will remain valid until veterans receive their new cards. For more information, contact the VA at 433-0600. Q: Does the VA have a way of measuring the veterans' satisfaction with their health care? A: An independent study showed veterans gave VA health care a rating of 91 for customer satisfaction on a 100-point scale. The rating system's creator, the American Customer Satisfaction Index, said the results "should be considered a benchmark for federal agencies." Veterans also gave VA's inpatient hospital services a rating of 84 and outpatient services, such as the VA medical clinic, a rating of 83, compared to private-sector patients giving their health care providers ratings of 79 and 81, respectively. VA also rated 92 in veteran loyalty, meaning that veterans under VA care intend to continue using VA and speak positively to others about their experiences. The report was produced by the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan Business School, the CFI group, and the Federal Consulting Group. If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747. Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin, can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —

VA designs new cards to protect against fraud

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VA designs new cards
to protect against fraud

Text Site Directory:
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]