Wichita Standard

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Mike Bost have requested answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough regarding delays in implementing the Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Coordination Act. The legislation, passed in 2022, mandates increased coordination between the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and Veteran Health Administration (VHA) on MST claims.

The act requires the VA to provide veterans seeking assistance with outreach letters, information on the Veterans Crisis Line, and details on making appointments with mental health providers. However, implementation has been delayed until January 2025.

Senator Moran and Representative Bost expressed their disappointment in a letter stating: “We are disappointed by both VA’s delay in implementation of this law, and the lack of transparency with Congress about support for veterans filing disability compensation claims for military sexual trauma.”

The letter further outlines that the law required an automatic notification system by June 27, 2024. This system would alert VHA when a veteran enrolled in VA healthcare files a claim for MST-related disability compensation. The system is now expected to be operational five months late.

During a recent briefing, VA officials mentioned an interim mechanism implemented in August 2022 to share data daily between VBA and VHA about veterans filing MST claims. However, specifics on how this data meets Congressional requirements were not provided.

“It should not take an act of Congress to compel VHA to do more for veterans who have suffered from MST,” stated Moran and Bost. They urged that concrete policies should already be in place across the country.

The lawmakers have requested detailed plans from Secretary McDonough by December 13, 2024. These include how VHA will use shared data to improve services for veterans with MST claims and how success will be measured under the new program.