Two years after a scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs still has “profound deficiencies” in delivering health care to millions of veterans, a congressional commission says in a new report.
The Commission on Care says in a report to be released Wednesday that the VA delivers high-quality health care but is inconsistent from one site to the next, and problems with access remain.
The panel says the VA needs to improve its service to veterans, adding that the VA’s health care operations “require urgent reform. America’s veterans deserve a better organized, high-performing health care system.”
Congress created the 12-member commission in 2014 after approving a landmark law overhauling the VA in the wake of the wait-time scandal, which also revealed that VA employees were covering up chronic delays with false paperwork and secret waiting lists. As many as 40 veterans died while awaiting care at the Phoenix VA hospital, according to an investigation by the VA’s inspector general.
President Barack Obama said in a statement late Tuesday that the commission’s report includes a number of specific proposals that he will review closely in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, “We will continue to work with veterans, Congress and our partners in the veteran advocacy community to further our ongoing transformation of the veterans’ health care system,” Obama said. “Our veterans deserve nothing less for their sacrifices and their service.”
VA Secretary Bob McDonald also hailed the report and said he was pleased to see that many of the panel’s recommendations are in line with ongoing efforts to transform the VA into what McDonald calls a “veteran-centric organization.”
Work on that effort has been underway for two years and has resulted in increased access to health care and a better experience for veterans, McDonald said.
In March, the VA set a new record for completed appointments: 5.3 million in VA hospitals and clinics, 730,000 more than in March 2014. The VA also issued twice as many authorizations for government-paid, private care than in a comparable period two years ago, McDonald said.
Nearly 97 percent of appointments are now completed within 30 days of the veteran’s preferred date, McDonald said, a huge improvement over past performance.
But the report said the VA has a long way to go and singled out a “Choice Program,” authorized by Congress to make it easier for veterans to get private care, as significantly flawed. The report recommends replacing the program with community-based delivery networks that it said should improve access, quality and cost-effectiveness.
The Commission also found that the long-term viability of VA health care is threatened by problems with staffing, facilities, capital needs, information systems and other problems.
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said the 292-page report “makes it abundantly clear that the problems plaguing Department of Veterans Affairs medical care are severe. Fixing them will require dramatic changes in how VA does business, to include expanding partnerships with community providers in order to give veterans more health care choices.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
rotten to the core from above. there are many good people trying to do what is right but because of leadership and those in charge
trying to protect their positions and looking for advancement hinder their efforts.
This is not news. What does anyone expect? Anything run by our CORRUPT GOVERNMENT is a joke & a failure !!
The VA WILL NOT CHANGE !!!
The hospital personnel are not interested in the patient, but in making their job convenient for them. Malpractice is covered by the US Treasury, malfeasance is covered by the unions. It is impossible to fire a poor performing worker all they do is transfer them from department to department.
No effort is made to make the process more convenient for the patient. All they need according to them and the Democratic party are more of everything—people, facilities, equipment—money!!! When they start using what they’ve got wisely, then consider more money. Ask the volunteers or the people using the hospital about the long lines at the lab or pharmacy check-out. Used to be the same lines at travel pay till everything went electronic and they quit paying you for mileage. Saved more money right there on the back of the veterans.
[email protected] 0544 I use the orlanda and tampa va. I was told by a high ranking GI dr. at tampa That they could not help me I got better service in orlando. Now that I am not able to drive that far have to stop up to 3 time for bath room. I need to use choice and have been approved but have been told they [ powers to be ] can’t do that. If H.C. we want get any thing from her and him the draft dogges never been in the service. 0544 thankyou
CUT DC VA bureaucracy alone, by 100K.
Merge like Operations.
Privitize HC alone
Outsource.
Competitive bidding.
Find new VA director.
Hire like minds.
Streamline VA benefits.
Outsource Food & Security services?
More can be done
And turn it over to Private Businesses. Our Government cannot run anything right !!
Since I live in St. Paul, MN I have access to the Minneapolis VA Hospital system. And this is one of the best VA Hospitals in the US. And I’m personally lucky to have access to the VA system in spite of its flaws. But I did put up with all of the peacetime training and drills-as well as the field days and barracks cleaning. Not saying I’m special, but I did serve the 4 years. And it’s benefitting me now in my later years.