Hudson: VA Audit Shows Absolute Fiasco
March 3, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2017
Hudson: VA Audit Shows Absolute Fiasco
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement in reaction to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on issues with access to VA care at Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 6, which includes VA medical facilities in North Carolina:
“This report shines a light on a systemic, bureaucratic problem at the VA. It is an absolute fiasco and our veterans deserve better. I am alarmed and outraged that employees weren’t following proper reporting protocol, preventing veterans from accessing timely, quality care through the Choice Program,” said Rep. Hudson.“As the Representative of Fort Bragg and one of the fastest growing veteran populations in the nation, I am asking the VA to tell me what actions are being taken to fix this problem and hold any bad actors accountable. I will continue to fight so our veterans can get the best health care right when they need it without being stonewalled by the bureaucracy at the VA.”
Rep. Hudson has been a staunch advocate for fixing the VA by first allowing veterans with service-connected disabilities to choose care from private providers in their local communities and having the VA pay for it. As he’s said before, the only way we’re going to get veterans the care they deserve is to break the bureaucratic stronghold at the VA. The first step to do that is allowing all Tier I veterans the option of seeking private care in their own communities and having the VA pay for it, and his legislation, the Care Veterans Deserve Act (H.R. 1152), will do just that.
H.R. 1152 would make the pilot Veterans Choice Card program enacted by the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 permanent while expanding eligibility to veterans with a 50% service-connected disability rating or higher. The bill aims to further address the continued backlog of VA appointments across the country by:
- Allowing visits to walk-in clinics without prior authorization or copayment by veterans;
- Extending VA pharmacy hours to nights and weekends;
- Opening VA hospitals to volunteer community providers interested in working with veterans during their off-hours;
- Expanding the use of telemedicine at the VA.
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Issues:Veterans