A pilot program being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will use a private contractor and the Internet to speed claims decisions and cut down the time it takes to receive healthcare records from private physicians.

Officials say using a private contractor will help assist in collecting private medial records that support a Veterans application for benefits. The contractor will scan the records into a digital format and send them to VA through a secure transmission.

Officials said the pilot aims to validate initial estimates that a specialized contract can yield records required to process Veterans' disability compensation claims in seven to 10 days instead of VA's average 40 days. Moreover, the additional contract frees VA staff to focus on core duties to process claims more quickly.

"Innovations that will speed, simplify or improve our services to Veterans are receiving rigorous tests at VA," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We are committed to harnessing the best technology and the brightest minds in the government and private sector to ensure Veterans receive the benefits they have earned."

Exploring economical contract support for time savings is one of more than three dozen initiatives supporting VA's claims transformation plan, which aims to ensure that by 2015, Veterans' claims are decided within 125 days.

VA officials emphasize that in all cases Veterans must sign documents approving the release of their medical records to the department from private healthcare providers.

The pilot is expected to involve about 60,000 records requests among regional benefits offices in Phoenix; New York City; St. Louis; Portland, Ore.; Chicago; Anchorage, Alaska; Indianapolis, and Jackson, Miss.  

VA officials said at the conclusion of the pilot they will decide whether to cancel, modify or expand any changes in procedures nationwide.