Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt’s Call for Efficiency Saves Veterans Homes More Than $480,000
JEFFERSON CITY–The Missouri Veterans Commission heeded Gov. Matt Blunt’s call to fiscal responsibility, saving $480,011 in veterans’ homes throughout the state in just four months.
“I commend the Veterans Commission on their efforts to offer high quality service for our veterans while making better use of taxpayer dollars,” Blunt said. “Thanks to their initiative to get the most for every dollar, we are able to continue to provide excellent quality care to our deserving veterans while ensuring state resources are used responsibly and wisely.”
Missouri Veterans’ Homes recognized the savings by evaluating purchasing options and changing contracts to receive the best value. The homes have the option of purchasing goods and services from federal contracts, state contracts, or private group purchasing contracts with vendors.
Changing to the federal contract for food purchases led to an average annual savings of 16 percent from the previous private contract pricing. This saved the homes $40,379 in November, 2005; $41,411 in December, 2005; $38,891 in January, 2006; and $39,894 in February, 2006.
For incontinent care products for veterans, the commission was able to negotiate a group-purchasing contract to recognize the best price. Buying from the private group contract led to an average annual savings of 74 percent from the federal pricing used before the change. This saved the homes $82,557 in November, 2005; $74,262 in December, 2005; $84,586 in January, 2006; and $78,031 in February, 2006.
While working to keep support expenses down, Missouri Veterans Commission’s service officers have actually increased federal benefits paid to veterans in the state. Federal Department of Veterans Affairs benefits have steadily risen since 1999, when Missouri veterans received $423 million in benefits, to 2005, when Missouri veterans received $637 million in benefits.
For more information on the cost savings, please contact Terri Durdaller with the Department of Public Safety at (573) 751-4819.
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