The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs has made a commitment to safeguard veterans’ interests and resolve any issues that have been highlighted by federal watchdogs. This comes in response to a recent report by the Inspector General, which expressed concerns regarding the physicians employed by the VA.
Press Secretary Terrence Hayes, in response to a query from The Center Square, addressed recent IG reports. These reports highlighted the concerning practice of the healthcare wing of the VA, where doctors were being compensated for treating veterans, despite being disqualified for safety reasons.
According to The Center Square, VA spokesperson Christina Noel Hayes emphasized the commitment of the department to provide exceptional healthcare to veterans. She stated, “Our mission at VA is to ensure that veterans receive the top-notch healthcare they rightfully deserve from compassionate and qualified professionals. We will never settle for anything less.” Hayes acknowledged the importance of Inspector General reviews in improving VA healthcare and assured that the department is already taking steps to address the recommendations given by the OIG.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, recently expressed concerns to Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, regarding the well-being of veterans. As reported by The Center Square, Rubio raised questions about the treatment received by veterans.
In his letter, he highlighted that the VA’s internal policies do not hinder health care providers from receiving payment for treating veterans, despite their violation of federal policies.
Hayes assured that the agency will address Rubio’s concerns by directly responding to his letter. In addition, she emphasized that the agency is taking proactive measures to strengthen the review processes for healthcare providers in light of the findings from the IG report.
“We are currently conducting a comprehensive evaluation of our criteria and procedures to guarantee the identification and exclusion of all ineligible healthcare providers from participating in the VA’s Community Care Program,” stated Hayes. “Furthermore, we are implementing a suitable review process within the Veterans Health Administration to verify that previous removals of healthcare providers were indeed prompted by concerns regarding patient safety.”
Rubio emphasized the need for accountability within the VA and highlighted instances where doctors who were unfit to treat veterans were allowed to do so.
The VA OIG has recently highlighted a specific case that sheds light on the need to address a nationwide issue. The case involves a surgeon who had their medical license revoked in Florida but later became a provider in the VCCP. According to the OIG, the surgeon voluntarily gave up their Florida medical license after an investigation by the Florida Department of Health, which notified them of a potential termination for cause. The OIG pointed out that Optum, the organization responsible for credentialing in the VCCP, was unclear on whether such instances should be considered in the credentialing process. Additionally, the OIG noted that the VA’s contracts do not provide any definition or guidance on this matter.
Hayes made a commitment to tackle the issue of third-party providers who are not qualified to provide care for veterans.
Hayes, in an interview with The Center Square, emphasized the importance of taking appropriate corrective actions against ineligible providers within the Community Care Network. He further mentioned the collaboration with third-party administrators to ensure the removal of these providers. Hayes expressed a commitment to fully resolving this issue for the benefit of the Veterans they serve.