I'm going to start and then turn it over to Dr. Courchesne.
I think the first part has to do with when the OAG talked about 32 weeks. We have to recognize that during the first 16 weeks a lot depends on the delay. There is some interpretation that comes into that 16 weeks. Needless to say, there is a delay before we get a completed application and it's entered into the system. We've had lots of discussion with the OAG about the 16 weeks. Some of the data they were taking was from the get-go of the first phone call. It's hard to open a claim when you only have a phone call.
That said, we accept the fact that it's long. We accept the fact that we had to simplify. What we have done since the OAG report is to accelerate our disability process for mental health. We have done it for many other items, not just mental health. But since we're talking mental health, I will specifically talk about it.
If they have a diagnostic and they come in to us and they've served, especially if they've been in any SDAs or special duty areas, they are in the club. To really decrease...whether it's 32 or 16, to me at this point is not important. The important thing is to get that down. While they're waiting for this, there are avenues for them. We can't forget that we have the 1-800 network. We'll give the veteran 20 sessions with a psychiatrist or a psychologist within 24 to 72 hours. We pay for that. There is no adjudication process.
As long as they're a veteran or a veteran's family, we take care of the bill. There is no delay. There is no waiting. You call that number. You need help. Somebody referred to the crisis line earlier. If you need help, we will help you. We'll get you into mental health. It is not the OSI clinic, I agree, but at least you can get help immediately, pending a lot of this stuff. We pay. There's no billing. It's with Health Canada. They bill my division directly and we take care of it.
I'll turn it over to Mr. Courchesne or Dr. Ross.