Disarray at the VA
Amid public furor over revelations that employees at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Phoenix concealed a massive backlog of patients waiting up to a year for treatment, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned. The hospital reportedly placed patients on a secret list to evade scrutiny by federal regulators who grant bonuses for maintaining short patient wait times. Whistleblowers have alleged treatment delays are to blame for the deaths of at least 40 veterans at the facility. Reports of similar scheduling manipulations and patient backlogs at two dozen other VA hospitals nationwide have prompted a comprehensive review by the VA Office of Inspector General and a system-wide audit by the Veterans Health Administration. Preliminary findings from both inquiries confirm many of the accusations about gross mismanagement and misconduct. The Pentagon has announced that it will review its own health care system. On June 5, the U.S. Senate passed a reform...