After the revelations about the lengthy wait times at Veteran’s Affairs hospitals in recent weeks, a new conversation surrounding the treatment of the nation’s former soldiers has erupted in counties across the county.

In Cass County, though, the needs of the estimated 4,500 local veterans have been a priority for years, even without an increased level of scrutiny, according to Cass County VA Director Tom Green.

“You all watch the news. You know there are issues with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs,” Green said. “I can tell you that’s not true locally. Most veterans in this area will tell you that they’re happy with the timeliness and the healthcare they are getting.”

Green provided an update on the status of his department to the county board of commissioners during its regular meeting last week. He also introduced a resolution to the commission to increase this year’s budget by $20,000, which will be voted on by the board during their next meeting, on July 17.

In his presentation, Green highlighted the region’s quality of healthcare for veterans, provided by the number VA hospitals dotting Michiana, in Benton Harbor, South Bend, Goshen. Residents in the Marcellus area often also take advantage of the facilities out in Battle Creek, Green said.

“We’re covered all around, so people can get their healthcare in a timely manner and not have to travel that far to go to get it,” he said.

One of the areas that Green changed in the past year was implanting the new federal mandated policies for claims, which has resulted in increased interest from area veterans.

“Five years ago, when I started here, the first claim I made out for a veteran was 20 pages long,” Green said. “When we finished, I told him we wouldn’t hear anything for at least a year and a half. The claim that I file today is electronic, is two pages long and I’ll probably get it adjudicated in less than 90 days.”

Another change that went into effect during the past year were two new laws from the state: one in November gives veterans two new categories for property tax exemptions and another in May that identifies veterans on their driver’s licenses.

Despite the decline in the number of Cass County veterans over the last several years, from around 5,200 five years to 4,500 today, the VA spent over $15 million on them last year, $6.8 million of which were given directly to veterans to help pay for their needs. The department also spent a total of more than $7 million on healthcare for veterans, or around $6,000 per enrolled veteran, Green said.

“I like those figures,” Green said. “Because of your [the board] support of this office, we’re able to do some real good, and you do some good for the veterans of this county,” Green said.