ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis: VA Medical Facilities Need Major Reforms

ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis: VA Medical Facilities Need Major Reforms

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice-chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, called for major reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs. In recent weeks, the department has been under scrutiny after reports emerged that VA medical centers were using altered wait lists.

"The VA has systemic failures that promote a culture of mediocrity and discourage transparency and accountability, which has resulted in a backlog of Veterans' claims coupled with excessive and outrageous wait times to receive care," Bilirakis said on Tuesday. "Part of this stems from the VA's inability to provide timely access to quality care for veterans. Unfortunately, it has taken the preventable deaths of dozens of veterans to spur the VA to change. Changing how VA operates, combined with allowing veterans to receive care outside the VA, should help reduce the backlog and get veterans the access to the care they need."

Bilirakis is a supporter of the VA allowing more veterans receive care at non-VA medical facilities.

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