WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAU) — There’s mixed reviews from Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation about the success of the changes made recently in the Veterans Administration health system.
The Tomah VA initiated a 30-day plan with a list of objectives to turn around the issues and the culture of the facility. That 30 days have now passed. “Thirty days has already come and gone, but it doesn’t mean the plan stops working, and being tweeked and updated constantly, so it was a good, initial first step in the direction we need to go. Now we need to continue to monitor, continue listening to veterans and families themselves on what improvements they think need to be made.”
Wisconsin’s elected officials say the initial round of disciplinary action removing a few high ranking officials isn’t enough. Republican Sean Duffy says more accountability is necessary. “If you have health care providers that aren’t treating our vets correctly, you have to have some due process for them, but you have to have a process where you can actually be fired.” He adds, “If you’re harming veterans, you have no place in the VA system. We have a bill that will make it easier to move them through the process and get rid of those bad actors.”
Congressman Kind says the recent report on opoid prescription overdoses and failing to treat a man suffering a stroke did not hold anyone accountable for a crime, but he is pleased changes are continuing to prevent future problems. “There wasn’t any direct evidence of any negligence or criminal wrongdoing, there were specific recommendations that we need to follow up on right now that the OIG (Inspector General) is making some steps and procedures in order to avoid incidents like this. It’s going to be important to do the follow up now.”
Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson issued a subpoena for more documents about the Tomah abuse from the VA Office of Inspector General. Johnson says the reports that were done were basically written and filed away, with no action taken. He says, “Those reports should be made public.”
Kind agrees, telling reporters, “This idea of hiding the ball and only releasing it when it’s requested or under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) is ridiculous.”
Johnson believes the VA also needs an independent and permanent Inspector General. The Senator says the acting IG answers to the VA, and is protecting the agency instead of holding people accountable for their mistakes.
Sean Duffy says this issue is proof that writing and calling all of your elected officials can begin to solve problems. “Whether it’s me, or (Senator) Ron Johnson, or (Senator) Tammy Baldwin, or (Representative) Ron Kind, that matters. Making sure that people know that you care about these issues as representatives, that moves people and makes people act because we see all of the mail, we look at all of the mail, and when people take the time to voice their opinions, that registers.”
All of the elected officials say they intend to keep a close watch on developments at Tomah and the Veterans Administration system in general.
