ICYMI: Walorski Questions Veterans Affairs Official Regarding News Phoenix VA Employees Falsified Patient Documents
WASHINGTON D.C. – Last night, Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, questioned Dr. Thomas Lynch, VA assistant deputy under secretary for health for clinical operations, about an article released last night accusing employees at the Phoenix VA of altering patient records, “‘deceased’ notes on files were removed to make statistics look better, so veterans would not be counted as having died while waiting for care,” the article states.
“Again, it’s so hard to take the information seriously that you give us tonight, when there’s these ongoing investigations by new whistleblowers that they’re taking stickers off of files and removing names. Still while we’ve been doing these hearings for a couple months, Americans are literally wondering when is this going to stop. This looks like a new revelation tonight. Under all of the scrutiny, all the lights, all the spirit of full disclosure, Phoenix is still doing this kind of stuff and you guys have had them under a microscope and you’ve physically been there four times and this is new,” Walorski said.
Watch the testimony below or click here.
The Washington Times also said “said she (Walorski) couldn’t believe the department didn’t know about the most-recent scandal even as officials have made several trips to the Phoenix facility in recent weeks to respond to secret wait lists and data manipulation first discovered in Phoenix, but now believed to be more widespread problems.
Last Wednesday, Walorski was appointed by Speaker Boehner to the VA conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate veterans affairs legislation. The conference committee will meet later today at 2:50 p.m.
Walorski co-sponsored H.R. 4031 and H.R. 4810 in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.
Walorski Remarks During Veterans Affairs Conference Committee
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a conferee of the veterans affairs conference committee, made the following remarks during the committee’s first meeting.
Click here to watch or click on the image below:
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Good afternoon. It’s an honor to be here today to start the process of finalizing legislation that will help our veterans. We need to get this right. We owe it to the men and women who served our country to get this right.
“This isn’t a partisan issue. All of us are appalled by the waitlists and negligence and deaths. Many of us here today have constituents who were directly impacted. There’s a potential wrongful death case in my district that is being investigated right now. We have to get this right and fix the problems at the VA.
“It’s very clear that institutional failures within the Department of Veterans Affairs are deeply ingrained. Attempts at reform before have oftentimes been met with resistance, deception, and whistleblower retaliation. Now we are hearing that in addition to altering wait times, Phoenix has also been altering the records of veterans who died waiting for care.
“While bad actors within some of these medical centers put their own careers above the health of our nation’s veterans, the Department turned a blind eye and awarded those at the heart of this disaster. Instead of punishing these people, Acting Secretary Gibson stated that cutting bonuses and transferring the money to underserved areas of the department, such as a veterans’ suicide prevention hotline, is “a bunch of crap.” This insular and self-protective attitude is at the core of the problem and must change; there will never be an incentive to change if people aren’t held accountable for their actions.
“We need to get the care our veterans need and fast. There is no question that we must get veterans the care they need and deserve whether the care be inside or outside of the VA. The challenge before us today is to do so in a responsible fashion. The need for this legislation is great. However, simply providing a financial boost to an agency that has repeatedly demonstrated awful management practices will not solve the problem. There is no point to spending an additional $50 billion a year in non-VA care if we don’t do this right. My commitment as we work on this legislation is to make sure bad actors can be fired and make sure we do whatever we need to do to pay for this legislation so we can make responsible reforms.
“Now is our opportunity as legislators to take the first steps towards meaningful reform. These problems are multi-layered and getting to the bottom of them will be like peeling apart an onion. However, I am confident that the House and Senate reform proposals are positive steps in the right direction. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both Chambers, from both sides of the aisle in in hammering out a final version of legislation that responsibly addresses timely access to care and holds those bad actors accountable.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Walorski Comments During House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs Outrageous Bonus System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 20, 2014
Contact: Lindsay Jancek
(202) 225-3915
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Walorski Comments During House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs Outrageous Bonus System
WASHINGTON D.C. – Earlier today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) held a full committee hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) dysfunctional bonus system.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the committee, heard testimony describing how the VA awards bonuses. The committee learned that the criteria used reward these bonuses created an incentive to lie and falsify information – putting veterans at risk and rewarding executives for bad behavior.
Watch Walorski’s remarks here, or click on the image below.
Walorski asked Gina Farrisee, VA assistant secretary for human resources, for information regarding the Presidential Rank Awards that were given to executives at the VA. She also requested a list of all senior executive service (SES) level VA employees in the state of Indiana and any bonuses they received for the last five years.
Farrisee responded she would try and obtain all information within a few weeks. HVAC Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) gave Farrisee an ultimatum that if the information was not provided to Walorski, it would be subpoenaed.
Despite the fact that multiple VA Inspector General reports have identified that VA bonus pay has no clear link to performance, the department has consistently defended its celebration of executives who presided over widespread mismanagement, while giving them glowing performance reviews and cash bonuses of up to $63,000.
On Wednesday, Walorski was appointed by Speaker Boehner to the VA conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate veterans affairs legislation.
Walorski co-sponsored H.R. 4031 and H.R. 4810 in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.
Presidential Rank Award – The president recognizes and celebrates a small group of career senior executives and senior career employees with the Presidential Rank Award. Distinguished Rank recipients receive a lump-sum payment of 35 percent of their rate of annual basic pay; Meritorious Rank recipients receive 20 percent of their rate of annual basic pay. All recipients receive a framed certificate signed by the President.
Walorski Appointed to VA Conference Committee
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, House Speaker John Boehner appointed Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) to serve on a conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate veterans affairs legislation. Walorski, a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is the only House of Representatives member from Indiana to be selected to serve on the committee, which will include members from the House and Senate.
“We now have proof the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) falsified records which led to veterans receiving delayed care and who knows how many deaths of the very men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. While action is absolutely necessary, we must put politics aside and work together to pass a bill that is fiscally responsible and protects the millions of veterans in this country who deserve our deepest gratitude for their service. Rest assured, I will work to ensure that the almost 500,000 Hoosier veterans are not forgotten as differences between the House and the Senate bills are resolved. I thank Speaker Boehner for the privilege to serve on this committee and look forward to producing a fiscally responsible bill that will provide care to veterans and clean up this mess once and for all,” said Walorski.
Earlier this year, Walorski joined Speaker Boehner and fellow GOP lawmakers in supporting greater VA accountability.
Walorski co-sponsored H.R. 4031 and H.R. 4810 in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.
Walorski Votes to Support Increasing Veterans’ Access to Health Services
Co-sponsored legislation to help veterans facing longer wait times at VA facilities
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, voted to support legislation that will provide veterans with greater access to health care. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 421-0.
“Yesterday’s Veterans Affairs (VA) audit showing almost 60,000 veterans waiting to get appointments at the VA with 70 percent of facilities placing these patients on alternative lists to make wait times appear shorter is appalling. This legislation will give the VA the authority to provide care for eligible covered veterans and help lower the egregious wait times we’re seeing across the country,” said Walorski. “My priority will continue to be ensuring our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve and this legislation is one step in the right direction.”
H.R. 4810, the “Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014,” which Walorski co-sponsored, was drafted in response to reports across the country that veterans requesting doctor appointments were put on long waiting lists which resulted in many VA facilities falsifying and covering up wait times. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, will allow veterans to get health care from a non-VA provider if the veteran lives more than 40 miles from a VA facility or has waited longer than the wait-time goals for an appointment.
The legislation now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
An audit released yesterday by the VA found that over 57,000 veterans are still waiting for their initial appointment.
Recent reports across the country have linked many VA patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities, including dozens of preventable deaths at VA medical centers nationwide, including 13 in Indiana.
Walorski co-sponsored H.R. 4031 the “Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014” in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.
Statement: Walorski Reaction to Shinseki Resignation
WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) made the following statement after the announcement President Obama has accepted the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki:
“Secretary Shinseki is a decorated veteran and has dedicated his life to this country and for that we will always be grateful. This issue is not partisan, nor is it political and it must remain that way. Today is not a celebration or a victory for the millions of American veterans in our country who are in limbo with doctor appointments, illnesses and medical benefits. Since I was sworn into office 18 months ago, I have heard heartbreaking stories from vets who have been left to die at the hands of the VA. I have been provided with reports detailing abuse and secret waiting lists that were destroyed. I will move heaven and earth if needed to make sure no one else suffers at the expense of VA mismanagement. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has passed dozens of bipartisan measures to help improve the lives of our veterans. Now, 15 bills now sit in the Senate waiting for action. We must work together to get to the bottom of the corruption, which is why I called for Shinseki’s resignation almost three weeks ago and asked for an outside criminal investigation to tell us, once and for all, how preventable deaths and the cover-up of information, was allowed. Shinseki’s successor should have outside experience and gravitas and must put an end to the deliberate destruction of records while also holding bad actors accountable. Otherwise they are being set up for failure and veterans will continue to die. I look forward to working together with the VA to uncover the truth and help protect our nation’s veterans to ensure they receive the care and benefits they so rightfully deserve.”
Walorski Statement on Interim Inspector General Report on VA Wait Times
Called for criminal investigation into ongoing VA problems
WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) made the following statement after today’s release of the Inspector General (IG) interim report by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) wait times:
“I applaud Chairman Miller for joining with me and others in calling for the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. While I have the utmost respect for Shinseki, the interim report from the IG confirms what I’ve been saying all along – we must do everything in our power to ensure our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve and this isn’t happening under the leadership of Secretary Shinseki. Sadly today’s report only confirms what I’ve known to be true and I am now calling for a criminal investigation into the corruption plaguing the VA in an effort to find the cause of the systemic problems consuming this agency. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to give the VA the tools necessary to ensure our vets are protected from mismanagement by senior VA officials.”
Excerpts from the report include:
- “Allegations at the Phoenix HCS include gross mismanagement of VA resources and criminal misconduct by VA senior hospital leadership, creating systemic patient safety issues and possible wrongful deaths.”
- “The issues identified in current allegations are not new. Since 2005, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued 18 reports that identified, at both the national and local levels, deficiencies in scheduling resulting in lengthy waiting times and the negative impact on patient care.”
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller earlier today called for the resignation of Shinseki following the release of the interim report.
Last month, Walorski joined Speaker Boehner and fellow GOP lawmakers in supporting greater VA accountability. The bill, H.R. 4031 passed out of the House last week by a vote of 390-33 and now heads to the Senate for further action.
Two weeks ago, Walorski voted along with her fellow colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to subpoena documentation from Secretary Shinseki and eight other VA officials, related to the Phoenix VAMC.
Walorski joined the American Legion in calling for the resignation of Secretary Shinseki and wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to immediately ask for the resignation of Shinseki and Under Secretary Hickey.
Statement: National Defense Authorization Act Passes House
Includes Walorski Amendment on Status of Iran Nuclear Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), released the following statement after H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015, passed the House by a vote of 325-98.
The NDAA, which is the annual bill to authorize defense spending, now heads to the Senate for further action.
“Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues on the HASC, this year’s defense bill works within budgetary constraints to ensure our military continues to have the best people, training, and resources to protect our country. Passage of this bill means America will maintain the strongest and best military in the world.
“In addition, this builds on the important work of last year’s NDAA to combat military sexual assault, and contains several additional bipartisan, commonsense provisions. This bill also includes an amendment I co-authored to require the Obama Administration to provide a report on the status of Iran’s nuclear program and its compliance with the interim nuclear agreement.
“I will continue to support our servicemen and women by providing them with the necessary equipment needed to maintain a vital global presence to face current threats and prepare for new ones.”
Walorski Votes to Support Veterans Affairs Accountability
Co-sponsored H.R. 4031 to provide VA with greater authority to fire negligent employees and asked President Obama for greater urgency towards VA mismanagement
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee, voted to support legislation to bring greater accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
H.R. 4031, the “Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014,” which Walorski co-sponsored, would provide the VA Secretary with the ability to fire employees from the Senior Executive Service (SES) due to poor performance.
“While the vast majority of VA’s more than 300,000 employees are hardworking and dedicated, the department’s well-documented reluctance to ensure its leaders are held accountable for mistakes is tarnishing the reputation of the organization,” Walorski said.
“Giving the VA the authority to fire those employees responsible for historic failures within the department is the right thing to do.”
Recent reports have linked many VA patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities, including at least 13 wrongful deaths at VA medical centers in Indiana[i]. In many cases, senior department executives who preside over negligence and mismanagement, including preventable deaths, patient safety and mismanagement, are more likely to receive a bonus than receive punishment.[ii] [iii]
Earlier today, President Obama addressed the allegations of VA abuse across the country and said he would wait for reports from the Inspector General before making a final determination.
Walorski said veterans deserve a sense of urgency from the White House.
“How many reports and investigations need to be conducted to show the President the wrongdoing at the VA? My colleagues and I on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee have subpoenaed documentation from Secretary Shinseki and eight other VA officials, related to the Phoenix VAMC,” Walorski said. “On behalf of our nation’s veterans and their families we should all be embarrassed by the lack of accountability at the VA.”
The measure passed by a vote of 390-33 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Last month, Walorski joined Speaker Boehner and fellow GOP lawmakers in supporting greater VA accountability.
Last week, Walorski voted along with her fellow colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to subpoena documentation from Secretary Shinseki and eight other VA officials, related to the Phoenix VAMC.
Walorski joined the American Legion in calling for the resignation of Secretary Shinseki and wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to immediately ask for the resignation of Shinseki and Under Secretary Hickey.
Walorski’s remarks on the House floor today can be found here.
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Walorski Statement on Resignation of Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health Robert Petzel
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) released the following statement after the Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs Robert Petzel announced his resignation this afternoon:
“On Monday, I sent a letter to President Obama, along with 15 of my House colleagues, requesting he uphold accountability at the VA by requiring the immediate resignations of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Under Secretaries Robert Petzel and Allison Hickey. Today, with Petzel’s resignation, we are one step closer to holding the VA accountable for their actions. I’m curious why Petzel, who announced months ago he was retiring, finally chose to resign the day after he was grilled in a Senate hearing,” Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs said. “Unfortunately, it has taken dozens of wrongful deaths due to VA negligence, including 13 in Indiana, for the inefficiency at the VA to garner national headlines. I will continue to fight on behalf of our nation’s 23 million veterans and call for the resignations of Secretary Shinseki and Under Secretary Hickey.”
Recent reports have linked many Veterans Affairs patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities, including dozens of preventable deaths, including 13 in Indiana, at VA medical centers nationwide.
On Monday, Walorski, along with 15 of her House colleagues, sent a letter to President Obama requesting he uphold accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs by requiring the resignation of three senior VA officials.
Last Thursday, Walorski voted to subpoena records from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Last month, Walorski joined Speaker Boehner and fellow GOP lawmakers to join in supporting greater VA accountability.
Walorski has co-sponsored H.R. 4031 the “Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014” in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.