The Department of Veterans Affair’s internal watchdog, the Office of Inspector General, shortly before Memorial Day, released a series of reports and memos detailing the Biden administration’s glaring failures ranging from lax security to benefits delayed by unwarranted tests.
“The review team examined the electronic health records of 480 patients with firearm-related suicide behavior events,” one report noted. “Among patients with nonfatal events, VHA staff failed to document required safe storage discussions in approximately 30 percent” of the cases.
Some serious problems were flagged at individual VA hospitals. For instance, in Puget Sound, Wash., a patient’s care was delayed by “poor documentation and inadequate staff training,”
The volume of problems waiting to be fixed at VA was made clear in a table listing more than 150 unresolved recommendations from prior investigations.
“Persistent police staffing shortages and growing concerns about risks to VA staff, patient and visitor safety at healthcare facilities led to an OIG review of observed security and incident preparedness conditions,” the semiannual report stated.
A review of 70 such facilities “identified multiple security vulnerabilities and deficiencies, most notably security staffing shortages that contributed to the lack of a visible and active police presence,” also according to the report.
The report included the continued delay of veteran’s benefits because of unwarranted exams requested, the reports show.
“Veterans are still being required to attend unwarranted medical re-examinations for disability benefits,” the semiannual report noted.
“Unwarranted reexaminations are a waste of appropriated funds, could cause undue hardships for veterans, and reduce the efficiency and timeliness of claims processing,” the report also reads. “The OIG found VBA did not require staff to cite objective evidence for why reexaminations were needed per policy.”
“OIG staff have identified significant deficiencies,” VA Inspector General Michael Missal wrote to Congress.
“Our oversight efforts spotlighted in this report help illustrate how weaknesses in any of these areas of accountability can negatively affect veterans and can waste or misuse taxpayer dollars,” he also said.
Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has accused Democrats of spreading “false claims” that McCarthy’s proposed “Limit, Save, Grow, Act” would hurt veterans.
“Republicans have always prioritized veterans in our spending to ensure veterans have access to the care, benefits, and services they have earned, and as the chairman of this committee, that is my number one priority. Anyone who questions our commitment to the men and women who have served should find new talking points.”
