VA Admits To Mistake That Could Cost Veterans But Refuses To Correct It

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WTSP:


ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – Months after the 10 News Investigators revealed a typo could be costing veterans all across the country benefits they deserve, the Department of Veterans Affairs is admitting the mistake. But it isn’t fixing it.


A 10 News viewer emailed us with a tip that VA Form 21-8416 – an annual medical reimbursement form for veterans and their families – credits just 28.5 cents for miles driven for medical purposes. However, at the end of 2008, Congress passed a law to pay veterans 41.5 cents per mile.


10 News found some veterans in Central Florida, for example, drive thousands of miles a year to receive care at Bay Pines VAHCS, so the reimbursement can really add up.


But Form 21-8416 hasn’t been updated since October 2008, before Congress mandated the nearly 50 percent increase for veterans.


When 10 News broke the story in April, Congressman C.W. Bill Young penned a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, citing “the need to immediate update the VA’s ‘Medical Expense Report’ form (VA Form 21-8416) to ensure that our nation’s veterans are properly being reimbursed for their travel expenses.”


Shinseki responded to Young with a letter that read:


Dear Congressman Young,


Thank you for bringing this issue of Beneficiary Travel to my attention. This form should have been updated years ago.


The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Beneficiary Travel Program mileage reimbursement rate is currently $0.415 per mileage nationally. We have checked; no one using the outdated form was reimbursed at the lower, incorrect rate. However, anyone who was will be reimbursed the difference if they present paperwork showing an improper reimbursement.


Thank you again for bringing this to my attention and for your continued support of our mission, our Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families.


Sincerely,
Eric K. Shinseki


While the VA maintains no veterans had been improperly reimbursed, 10 News found several in April, and with 637,000 Americans eligible for the benefit, there are likely more. However, individual veteran filings are not available to the public.


On August 15, Young responded to Shinseki with another letter critical of the VA’s delay in fixing the form.


“As of today,” Young wrote, “the form that I pull from the VA website… still shows the mileage rate at 28.5 cents per mile, a figure that has not been in effect since 2008, instead of the current 41.5 cents per mile.


“While I appreciate your assurance in your letter to me that veterans are being reimbursed at the correct amount…I still think it would be best for all involved…to list the correct reimbursement rate.”


A VA spokesperson indicated the agency still does not have plans to change the outdated form, but it will try and make sure no veterans are shortchanged by the error.

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