Letter to Sloan Gibson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and James Robbins, Interim Director of the New Mexico VA Health Care System- Lujan Requests VA Audit of Current and Past Casework That Could Have Been Impacted By VA Misconduct

Letter

Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico's Third District sent letters today to Acting Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson and Dr. James Robbins, Interim Director of the New Mexico VA Health Care System, requesting that the VA audit casework conducted by Luján's office on behalf of veterans in the district. As a result of recent reports that as many as 3,000 New Mexico veterans were placed on a separate waiting list that resulted in significant delays to receive care, Luján is asking VA officials to review casework that is currently open to determine if the problems plaguing the VA system have impacted these cases. His office is also in the process of reviewing years of past casework that have been closed for any cases in which misconduct by the VA could have played a role in the decisions against his constituents.

"I have serious concerns that the deplorable actions in the Phoenix Health Care System are widespread within the VA system and that Veterans in New Mexico have been impacted by gross misconduct," Congressman Luján wrote in the letter. "Therefore, I am formally requesting an audit on all casework concerning the VA that is currently open with my office. In addition, as my office continues to review casework that has been closed in the past, I also request an audit of questionable cases we discover."

During his time serving the Third District, Luján and his staff have assisted hundreds of veterans who have had difficulty working with the VA, from getting benefits to complaints about long wait times for medical care.

"Constituent service is a top priority and we have had success getting veterans the benefits they have earned with their brave service," Luján said. "However, not every case has resulted in a favorable outcome. If any of these decisions were a result of the gross misconduct that has taken place within the VA system, we need to know and these cases need to be revisited as part of the VA's efforts to address improper actions that have taken place."

"I encourage any veteran who feels that they have been mistreated by the VA to contact my office and share their story," added Luján. "Hearing directly from those impacted by this misconduct will contribute to efforts to get to the bottom of this and ensure that proper changes are made to the VA so that our veterans receive the care they deserve."

Below is the text of Luján's letter to the VA:

June 5, 2014

The Honorable Sloan D. Gibson
Acting Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Gibson:

Like many of my constituents, I was outraged to see the recently released interim report published by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding the investigation of the Phoenix Health Care System where 1,700 veterans were omitted from within the VA Electronic Waiting List (EWL). Accusations of similar practices have emerged from within the VA system in Albuquerque, New Mexico where there were alleged efforts to disguise high patient demand at the VA, where as many as 3,000 patients who needed a primary care physician were placed in a "phantom" panel.

In light of the report by the OIG, as well as claims arising out of the New Mexico VA, our office is now reviewing our past and present Veterans health care casework to determine if any cases that did not result in a favorable outcome were due to problems discovered within the VA. I have serious concerns that the deplorable actions in the Phoenix Health Care System are widespread within the VA system and that Veterans in New Mexico have been impacted by gross misconduct. Therefore, I am formally requesting an audit on all casework concerning the VA that is currently open with my office. In addition, as my office continues to review casework that has been closed in the past, I also request an audit of questionable cases we discover.

It is essential that the VA act immediately to address any improper actions that have taken place and ensure that our veterans are receiving the care they deserve. Thank you for your attention to this matter and please keep me apprised of all findings and developments regarding this important issue.

Sincerely,

Ben Ray Luján
Member of Congress

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