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Record Achievements in Veterans Health Care and Benefits in Fiscal 2024
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Department has reported unprecedented levels of health care services and benefits for veterans during fiscal year 2024. Notably, this success was achieved despite a reduction in the hiring of new staff.
Health care appointments at the VA surged by 6% from the previous year, reaching an impressive total of 127.5 million, while also managing to reduce wait times for patients across various facilities nationwide. The value of benefits disbursed by the VA increased by 15%, amounting to $187 billion, and the number of processed disability benefit claims saw a remarkable rise of 27%, surpassing 2.5 million. These statistics indicate that the VA has set new benchmarks, surpassing its previous records from fiscal 2023.
Additionally, the VA successfully transitioned 48,000 veterans from homelessness into permanent housing during this fiscal year.
Department Secretary Denis McDonough highlighted these accomplishments at a recent event hosted by the National Press Club in Washington. He stated, “By nearly every metric, VA is smashing records we had set last year. That means even more care, even more benefits for even more veterans. It’s not just more care; it’s better world-class care, leading to improved health outcomes for veterans compared to the private sector.”
Since the implementation of the PACT Act signed into law by President Biden, nearly 800,000 veterans have enrolled in VA services, reflecting a 37% increase within a comparable period. Furthermore, the number of benefit claims has risen by 30% over the past two years in comparison to the prior two years.
Representative Mark Takano, the leading Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, praised the department’s progress as “tremendous news,” reinforcing the obligation to support veterans with the total costs incurred from military service. Takano emphasized the importance of continuing to enhance access to health care and benefits for veterans requiring assistance.
In the face of these successes, the VA managed to serve an increasing number of veterans while simultaneously experiencing a notable slowdown in its hiring efforts compared to the record growth seen in fiscal year 2023. The Veterans Health Administration, where the majority of VA personnel are employed, experienced a 2% workforce increase in fiscal 2024, down from 7% in the previous year. Meanwhile, the Veterans Benefits Administration’s workforce also grew by 10%, significantly less than the 23% surge in fiscal 2023.
Looking ahead, the VA anticipates maintaining a constrained hiring environment in fiscal 2025 and foresees a reduction of about 10,000 employees through attrition. The Biden administration has requested an additional $12 billion to address budgetary shortfalls for the VA in fiscal 2025, although this funding has yet to be approved and congressional Republicans have expressed ongoing questions regarding it. McDonough indicated that with the additional funds, the VHA would slightly increase its personnel to meet rising demands in specific regions.
“We’re hopeful that, as we make this argument to Congress, we’ll gain their attention and support, as we have in the past,” McDonough remarked. “We’ll see how this plays out over the course of next month.”
VA officials have expressed confidence in sustaining growth in services and benefits despite workforce reductions, citing their ability to process claims and serve veterans more efficiently. They attributed improvements in appointment availability and ongoing long-term strategies related to hiring and technology enhancements as contributing factors to reduced wait times. However, numerous veterans have reported significant delays in accessing mental health care appointments.
McDonough commended VA staff for their unwavering commitment, particularly in light of the challenges presented by Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath, the department identified around 2,600 veterans in Asheville, North Carolina, who were at risk, including those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy. VA employees undertook the initiative to check on these veterans, successfully ensuring the safety of all identified individuals, even while facing their own personal challenges due to storm damage.
“They represent the most compassionate, high-performing, and dedicated workforce in the federal government and across the country,” McDonough added.
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