Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Asking For Bigger Operating Budget in 2012

February 24, 2011 - Despite large spending cuts being debated on Capitol Hill, President Obama, has asked for an increase in the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) spending for health care and increased veterans programs. The VA's current budget is $124.3 billion, which does not include health-insurance reimbursements, which will total approximately $3 billion. The VA's requested budget for 2012 is $132 billion, which, although it includes increases in critical areas, is almost 4% more than the administration's still unapproved request.   

Treating mental trauma is a growing priority among today's young veterans. As more veterans require treatment for such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), more money is needed to fund those treatments. President Obama's proposed discretionary spending budget for military veterans includes $61.85 billion to be used to treat veterans with mental disorders and brain injuries. Another $6.2 billion has been proposed in order to fund mental health programs, which will include suicide prevention efforts.

Also, despite cutbacks in construction at VA facilities, the proposed budget includes $344 million to open the doors on new medical facilities and another $590 million to maintain operations at 7 health care projects underway and start 3 new facilities.

The budget also includes a substantial $940 million for programs to combat homelessness among veterans. This is almost 20% more money than was requested in 2011.

Finally, the VA is proposing they be given $53.9 billion for medical care. That figure is $3 billion more than they are using now but they are expecting to treat about 85,000 new patients next year; 60,000 of which will be Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The total amount of VA health care patients is approximately 6.2 million.

Whether this full budget is approved or not only time will tell. There will be an influx of veterans seeking health care for the first time next year, and without the proper funds, these veterans may start receiving sub-standard care.