Rep. Andy Harris Releases Statement in Response to New Department of Veterans Affairs Audit

Press Release

Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., a Navy veteran and physician who worked in both the military and veteran health systems, has released the following statement in response to news that the VA Maryland Health Care System has the fourth-longest average wait time for new patient primary care, according to a new nationwide Department of Veterans Affairs audit. The audit, released today, found that the Maryland system, which includes the Baltimore and Perry Point VA hospitals as well as the Loch Raven VA Community Living and Rehabilitation Center, had an average wait time of 81 days for new patients. The wait is more than five times the 14 days the VA had set as guidelines for patients to see a doctor.

"The report is no surprise, as the number-one complaint my case workers receive is problems with the veterans' administration. Wait times of this length are completely unacceptable, which is why we need to allow our high-priority veterans to opt out of a failed veteran health system."

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