The VA: Two Years Too Late
[guest post by Dana]
Last week, retiring Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released a detailed 119-page report about the systemic problems at the VA. In summation:
“Over the past decade, more than 1,000 veterans may have died as a result of VA malfeasance, and the VA has paid out nearly $1 billion to veterans and their families for its medical malpractice.”
Because of unfathomable greed and corruption by government workers who chose to falsify records in order to earn greater performance bonuses for themselves, American veterans died.
The fallout from the VA scandal continues as we hear of more tragic stories due to malfeasance within the agency.
One of those who died while waiting for the VA to schedule an appointment was Doug Chase, a Vietnam veteran. Horribly, three years ago it was discovered that he had a brain tumor. Last month his wife finally received a letter from the VA to schedule an appointment to see Doug – except that he died in 2012.
The Veterans Affairs Department is apologizing to a Massachusetts woman for offering an appointment to her husband almost two years after he died. …
In 2012, she tried to move his medical care to the VA hospital in Bedford. They waited four months and never heard anything. He died in August 2012.
Suzanne Chase says two weeks ago she got a letter addressed to her husband, saying he could call to make an appointment.
She says the VA had to know her husband was dead because she applied for funeral benefits and was denied.
The department said in a statement: “We regret any distress our actions caused to the veteran’s widow and family.”
With that, yesterday the president tapped former Procter and Gamble CEO *Robert McDonald to take over the troubled agency.
What especially makes Bob the right choice to lead the VA right now is his three decades of experience building and managing one of the world’s most recognizable companies,” Obama said at VA headquarters. “In short, he’s about delivering better results.”
Hopefully, the president’s confidence in McDonald has a higher rate of return than with his predecessor.
*The Washington Post makes a point to inform readers:
McDonald, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was not likely chosen because of any past support for the president. He donated to Republican Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign to unseat Obama and has funded numerous other Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner.
–Dana
From the WaPo article:
Naturally, neither the Obama Administration nor the Washington Post itself cares to comment on the idea that when things are in disaster mode even liberals recognize that putting them in the hands of a “seasoned Washington insider” (i.e., bureaucratic or political hack) is simply out of the question.
JVW (feb406) — 7/1/2014 @ 9:34 amAs usual, if you want something done, hire a Republican.
luagha (5cbe06) — 7/1/2014 @ 9:42 amNew York Times article Saturday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/us/report-finds-health-unit-of-va-needs-overhaul.html
That report was attributed to Rob Nabors, Mr. Obama’s deputy chief of staff. He and Sloan D. Gibson, the acting secretary of the department, met with Obama for more than an hour on Friday.
That wasn’t a miscalculation. That was doubling down on a cpver-up.
Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 7/1/2014 @ 9:54 amCoburn issued his report on Tuesday, last week.
This is his summary:
http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2014/6/beyond-the-waiting-lists-new-senate-report-reveals-a-culture-of-crime-cover-up-and-coercion-within-the-va
He also crioticizes the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, saying it was AWOL.
I tried to click Click for the entire report but got nothing, even in Firefox.
Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 7/1/2014 @ 10:03 amNo one would believe this level of utter incompetency if it was scripted in a movie.
askeptic (8ecc78) — 7/1/2014 @ 10:08 amThe Washington Post makes a point to inform readers:
maybe
all i can tell you is so far there hasn’t been a single pulitzer prize awarded for coverage of this veterans administration whatever thing
remember at Walter Reed, Dana Priest saw mouse poopies and National Soros Radio went out of their freaking mind
so far this veterans administration whatever thing isn’t really having anywhere near the same effect
happyfeet (8ce051) — 7/1/2014 @ 10:12 amSomething to remember:
askeptic (8ecc78) — 7/1/2014 @ 10:12 amTom Coburn is retiring (again) this year two years before the expiration of his current term.
He retired from the House in 2000 after serving 6-terms, then ran for the Senate in 2004, re-elected in 2010.
He has no need to obfuscate the facts to appease anyone anymore.
feets,
“Walter Reed” was under a Republican Administration.
askeptic (8ecc78) — 7/1/2014 @ 10:14 amJust like the Customs department people who granted the visas of the 9/11 killers…six months after they killed themselves and 3,000 others.
And we think these people can run our health care? Or check the backgrounds of 12 million illegals? Insanity.
Patricia (5fc097) — 7/1/2014 @ 12:01 pmSo Proctor and Gamble was built by private industry?
Oh, Empty Chair.
It’s beginning to look like it’s more dangerous to attempt to use the VA than it is to serve a tour in the sandboxes.
htom (412a17) — 7/1/2014 @ 12:06 pmConsidering that money (and lazy government employees including union members) has held back the service let’s make it a financial decision to treat patients promptly and well. Make it cost the VA more to wait too long for an appointment than they save holding off on the appointment. And if the appointment cannot feasibly be suitably prompt make it incumbent upon the VA to provide transportation and suitable care during transport for getting the patient to and from a facility that can treat them appropriately. As many as three family members should be entitled to travel with the patient to the destination city and enjoy suitable living facilities while there.
{^_^}
JDow (c4e4c5) — 7/1/2014 @ 5:36 pmPatricia (5fc097) — 7/1/2014 @ 12:01 pm
Or check the backgrounds of 12 million illegals?
Obama doesn’t seem to believe that he can check the background of Iraqis who aided the United States (often as interpreters) who are vouched for by former U.S. soldiers.
Congress passed special legislation to let them immigrate to the United States. It didn’t help when Congress passed a second law. (renewing the program) It’s still slow.
And when Obama evacuated some of the U.S. personnel from the embassy in Baghdad, the people he took out were those processing these special immigration or other visas.
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/06/27/iraqi-resettlement-johnson
(the State De[artment noted that if they can get to Erbil or Basra or someplace else there’s an embassy or consulate the process can continue.)
I read some article which said there were about 80 or so on some list somebody had – most are ow out of Iraq – one place is Turkey – bit in limbo. A few are still there and a few were killed., but I can’t find the article.
I think this is the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/opinion/the-iraqi-friends-we-abandoned.html?_r=1
Sammy Finkelman (95e288) — 7/2/2014 @ 12:22 pm