Durbin Legislation to Address Quality of Care for Nation's Veterans Included in Senate Committee Package

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that portions of his Veterans' Health Care Quality Improvement Act were included in the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee's package of health care related bills, the Veterans' Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. The legislation - authored by Durbin and introduced in the House by Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) - aims to strengthen hiring practices and improve quality control measures at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical facilities. The committee will consider its health care package and Durbin's legislation as it develops measures in the new Congress to ensure that veterans receive the care they deserve at the VA.

"Every one of the tragic deaths at the Marion VA hospital violated the obligation our nation owes to its veterans. Each of their lives can never be replaced," said Durbin. "The Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act is a strong step toward avoiding such tragedies in the future, and reestablishing trust in the veterans health care system. I am encouraged that the Senate Committee has recognized the importance of this legislation and I look forward to working with them to ensure that our veterans have access to the best medical care available."

The Veterans' Health Care Quality Improvement Act - written in response to the troubling circumstances at the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Southern Illinois - had previously been introduced in the 110th Congress by Durbin and then Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). A month later, in December 2007, Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives.

In May 2008, Durbin testified at a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee explaining reasons why his legislation should be included in the Committee's final package of healthcare related bills - now known as the Veterans' Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. Durbin also discussed the Marion VA situation at a hearing in November 2007. Testimony from several sources including the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, Tammy Duckworth and a former patient at the Marion VA Medical Center and Iraq veteran, Steven McCarty aided Durbin's drafting of the Veterans' Health Care Quality Improvement Act.

The Veterans' Health Care Quality Improvement Act is designed to tighten the process for hiring doctors, introduce a new quality assurance mechanism, and attract more quality medical professionals to the VA. The provisions from Durbin's legislation included in the Veterans' Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 will:

* Establish a more robust process for vetting doctors who apply to, or currently work for, the VA and restoring accountability to physician hiring and retention processes. The bill would require doctors applying to VA to disclose all past malpractice payments, disciplinary actions, and any ongoing investigations against them. In addition, applicants would have to request the state board where they have held a license to disclose this same information to the VA. For doctors already employed with the VA, such disclosures would be required every two years.

* Expand quality control programs in the VA health care system. The bill creates new quality assurance officer positions at facility, regional, and national levels, gives VA employees new forums to raise concerns about the quality of medical care at a facility, and requires the quality assurance office to develop strong peer review mechanisms for physicians.

Durbin's legislation additionally includes provisions that aim to increase the number of high-quality doctors practicing at VA hospitals by offering incentives, encouraging VA medical facilities to partner with nearby medical schools, and increasing the recruitment of experienced doctors willing to practice part-time to care for our veterans.

"VA medical facilities often operate in hard-to-serve areas offering starting salaries much smaller than private medical facilities in big metropolitan areas," said Durbin. "Partnering with medical schools and providing incentives such as loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement will help attract young doctors and medical students while exposing them to careers with the VA. In return, the VA will find it easier to hire and retain high-quality doctors while benefiting from new energy and innovative ideas that they bring."

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