Appendix-A-Major-Recommendations--By-Agency DEPARTMENT-OF-VETERANS-AFFAIRS DVA01 Develop the Master Veteran Record and Modernize the Department's Information Infrastructure Creation of a master veteran record for all VA programs and the improvements in the department's information technology will improve services to veterans and their families. na na DVA02 Modernize Benefits Claims Processing Modernization of the VA benefits claims processing system will improve the quality of service and save taxpayer dollars over time. na na DVA03 Eliminate Legislative Budget Constraints to Promote Management Effectiveness VA is covered by a number of special legislative requirements, including employment "floors" for certain programs. Reducing or eliminating some of these controls can reduce costs and improve service without sacrificing accountability. cbe cbe DVA04 Streamline Benefits Claims Processing VA should examine the usefulness of a New York Regional Office approach to benefits claims processing that promises to streamline the process. It should also examine regional staffing. 1.8 0.0 DVA05 Consolidate Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Compensation and Retired Pay Programs DOD and VA should create a task force to jointly examine their disability compensation adjudication and disbursement processes. cbe cbe DVA06 Enhance VA Cost Recovery Capabilities Revise VA policy to use a portion of cost recovery funds to defray debt collection costs and expand recoveries to save money. 0.0 486.5 DVA07 Establish a Working Capital Fund This recommendation would allow creation of a working capital fund using existing resources in the department to be used for certain selected needs. na na DVA08 Decentralize Decisionmaking Authority to Promote Management Effectiveness NPR recommends that VA headquarters and field management work together to improve agency decisionmaking, including the delegation of some decisionmaking to field activity directors. na na DVA09 Establish a Comprehensive Resource Allocation Program VA should design and develop a comprehensive, departmentwide, performance and needs-based resource allocation program to replace current approaches. na na DVA10 Serve Veterans and Their Families as Customers This recommendation outlines several approaches for VA to improve its focus on veterans and their families as customers. na na DVA11 Phase-Out and Close Supply Depots VA should convert its existing centralized depot storage and distribution program to a commercial just-in-time delivery system and close unneeded supply depots. -168.0 0.0 DVA12 Improve Business Practices through Electronic Commerce VA should expand its use of electronic media to reduce paperwork and save money. It should seek to make greater use of electronic funds transfer of compensation and pension benefits. -124.1 0.0 DVA13 Eliminate "Sunset" Dates in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 To achieve cost savings, extend certain cost savings measures that are due to expire in 1998. -704.8 490.0 DVA14 Raise the Fees for Veterans Affairs' Guaranteed Home Loans As a cost savings measure, loan fees on veterans loans should be raised above the levels set in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1994. -811.4 0.0 DVA15 Restructure the Veterans Affairs' Health Care System VA should reexamine its role and delivery structure after the issuance of the report of the President's National Health Care Reform Task Force and take actions to restructure the VA health care system. 0.0 0.0 DVA16 Recover Administrative Costs of Veterans' Insurance Program from Premiums and Dividends VA should be permitted to recover certain insurance program costs from insurance trust fund surpluses. 0.0 0.0 Grand Total $28,110.3 $8,255.7