STUDY OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR CLAIMS ADJUDICATIONS OF THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.

SEC. 226. STUDY OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR CLAIMS ADJUDICATIONS OF THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.(a) Study of Work Credit System and Work Management System Required.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of the current employee work credit system and work management system of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is used—(1) to measure and manage the work production of employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration who handle claims for compensation and pension benefits; and(2) to evaluate more effective means of improving performance.(b) Contents of Study.—In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider—(1) measures to improve the accountability, quality, and accuracy for processing claims for compensation and pension benefits under laws administered by the Secretary that are adjudicated by the Veterans Benefits Administration;(2) accountability for claims adjudication outcomes;(3) the quality of claims adjudicated;(4) a simplified process to adjudicate claims;(5) the maximum use of information technology applications;(6) rules-based applications and tools for processing and adjudicating claims efficiently and effectively;(7) methods of reducing the time required to obtain information from outside sources; and(8) the elements needed to implement—(A) performance standards and accountability measures, intended to ensure that—(i) claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary are processed in an objective, accurate, consistent, and efficient manner; and(ii) final decisions with respect to such claims are consistent and issued within the target identified in the most recent annual Performance and Accountability report submitted by the Secretary to Congress for the most recent fiscal year;(B) guidelines and procedures for the identification and prompt processing of such claims that are ready to rate upon submittal;(C) guidelines and procedures for the identification and prompt processing of such claims submitted by severely 122 STAT. 4160 injured and very severely injured veterans, as determined by the Secretary; and(D) requirements for assessments of claims processing at each regional office for the purpose of producing lessons learned and best practices.(c) Report to Congress.—Not later than October 31, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on—(1) the study conducted under subsection (a); and(2) the components required to implement the updated system for evaluating employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration required under subsection (d).(d) Evaluation of Certain Veterans Benefits Administration Employees Responsible for Processing Claims for Compensation and Pension Benefits.—Not later than 210 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress the report required under subsection (c), the Secretary shall establish an updated system for evaluating the performance and accountability of employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration who are responsible for processing claims for compensation or pension benefits. Such system shall be based on the findings of the study conducted by the Secretary under subsection (a).