Welcome to the
first edition of the McCain Update. This monthly e-newsletter will help keep you
informed of my work on the important issues facing our state and nation, as well
as my activities around Arizona. Whether it’s fighting against Obamacare,
supporting our military and veterans or working for economic growth and job
creation in Arizona, this is the place for the latest news updates. As always, I
appreciate your thoughts and feedback – I look forward to hearing from
you!
--John
McCain
Phoenix VA Health Care
System
My constant battle to improve care and reduce wait
times for our veterans took a new and unfortunate turn with the latest reports of gross
mismanagement and neglect in the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS). These
allegations are as outrageous as they are heartbreaking. According to reports, PVAHCS
officials fraudulently misused the Electronic Waiting List (EWL) system employed
by all VA Health Centers and kept a non-official list outside of standard VA
procedures. It is unconscionable that officials at the Phoenix VA would
allegedly allow a level of systemic failure that resulted in delays linked to
the deaths of up to 40 veterans who were awaiting medical care, and would then
tamper with documents to cover it up. |
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Senator Flake and I held
a meeting with Sharon Helman, director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System,
shortly after the allegations surfaced; she denied any knowledge of these claims
based on their own investigation thus far. We need a thorough, complete and
impartial investigation – one that can be brought directly to our veterans
community in Arizona who can decide whether it’s credible or not. It’s obvious
that PVAHCS has lost confidence with the veterans it was established to serve,
and we must do everything in our power to restore it.
Last week, I sent a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki
demanding answers to help get to the bottom of this mess. In addition, Senator
Flake and I requested that the Senate Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs investigate and hold a hearing to examine this matter. The
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman responded, committing to hold a hearing on the issue
following the completion of the VA Office of Inspector General's
investigation.
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