James Tuchschmidt, a top official at the VA, promised to provide a new annual report detailing the cost and quality of health services. (Olivia Marcus/MNS)
WASHINGTON – Members of a House subcommittee blasted Veterans Affairs on Wednesday for failing to adequately care for veterans and called for increased transparency from the embattled department.
“Unfortunately, it became painfully apparent to me last year that the Veterans Health Administration, which operates the VA health care system, was either unable or unwilling to provide basic information about the services it provides,” said Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich., who is chairman of the House Veterans Health Subcommittee.
The Veterans Health Administration, which operates health care for Veterans Affairs, faced scrutiny last year when several veterans died while waiting for care in the Phoenix system. The incident resulted in the firing of several high-level administrators, including VA chief Eric Shinseki.
In the wake of the scandal, lawmakers are demanding increased transparency and communication to understand the cost and quality of health care for veterans.
“Additional data, particularly if it was provided on a regular and systematic basis, could help inform policymakers about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of VHA’s services,” said Matthew Goldberg, an official at the Congressional Budget Office.
Goldberg suggested the VHA provide an annual report similar to the Department of Defense’s annual report to Congress on its health care system, TRICARE. The report would include information on operating statistics, appropriation of funding, costs and uses of inpatient, outpatient and pharmacy services and survey data on patient satisfaction.
“Additional data, particularly if it was provided on a regular and systematic basis, could help inform policymakers about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of VHA’s services,” said Louis Celli, legislative director of the American Legion, the largest veterans advocacy organization in the country.
“In order for them to not do it, there needs to be some kind of reason,” said Army veteran Elaine Little about the lack of an annual report. “Since there’s no reason, it doesn’t make any sense.”
Top VA official James Tuchschmidt promised to provide a report to the subcommittee on an annual basis, but several lawmakers remained unconvinced that would happen.
“Given the record of the VA in providing information to this committee, honestly, I have no confidence in your remarks,” said Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., in response to Tuchschmidt’s testimony. “I’m disheartened by the testimony today, and I think it is a responsibility for this committee to move forward with legislation to accomplish what the CBO has said and what the taxpayers need.”
Throughout the hearing, Tuchschmidt was unable to provide specific data, or confirm that it was publicly available.
Florida Reps. Jeff Miller, a Republican, and Corrine Brown, a Democrat, introduced a bill that would mandate a quadrennial report and increase oversight of the VHA this year. The bill is currently in committee.
