Lujan Grisham Outraged by VA Failures to Follow-Up with Cancer Patients

Press Release

Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham today expressed outrage after learning that the New Mexico VA failed to notify many patients about positive test results indicating they could have colorectal cancer.

The VA's Office of Inspector General discovered the lack of follow-up by the New Mexico VA Medical Center during an inspection in February 2015. In a report released this week, the OIG was critical of the New Mexico VA for the delays -- and in some cases, failure -- to notify patients of positive colorectal cancer screening test results. Nine patients were eventually diagnosed as having colon cancer and experienced significant delays in receiving care. Two of those patients eventually passed away.

The OIG reported 25 patients had no record of receiving required colonoscopies; another 52 patients did not get colonoscopies within 60 days of the test results.

"It's unacceptable that veterans did not get timely, follow-up care that could have resulted in life-saving treatment," Rep. Lujan Grisham said. "We have worked diligently to get the VA to hire more doctors and nurses, and to hold the medical center accountable for patient care. There is no excuse for these delays.

"I am also concerned that we had to rely on outside investigators to discover these delays," Lujan Grisham said. "I want to know whether the New Mexico VA is dropping the ball and jeopardizing patient care in other areas."

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