The most in-depth examination yet of a scandal over delays in treating veterans found widespread manipulation of scheduling data in Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country, according to the report released Tuesday.
The VA Inspector General's report said the investigation has spread to 93 agency healthcare sites and that the Justice Department and FBI are now involved in the probe.
The long-anticipated report caused federal officials to prepare a full-court public relations response well ahead of time. Selected media were granted interviews with top officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs days in advance and President Obama delivered a speech before the American Legion Tuesday in Charlotte heralding steps to correct failings.
Talking points and a press release emphasized apologizing for what went wrong and also highlighting the investigation's finding that none of the dozens of deaths of veterans waiting for care at the VA hospital in Phoenix could be conclusively linked to the delays.
Dr. Sam Foote, a crucial whistle-blower in the scandal who worked at the Phoenix VA hospital and who is now retired, said Tuesday that up to 63 veterans died while waiting for care at the hospital.
RELATED: Obama touts improvements for veterans
The scandal caught fire in April when Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, dropped a bombshell during a hearing on problems at the Phoenix facility, saying 'it appears there could be as many as 40 veterans whose deaths could be related to delays of care.'
Miller issued a statement in reaction to Obama's speech Tuesday, saying that so far no one has been fired in the scandal. 'What we need from the president right now is more follow-through and less flash when it comes to helping veterans,' Miller said.
Allegations emerged of veterans kept waiting months to see a doctor, their names kept off official waiting lists and tabulated in secret; and of appointment data being altered to make health care performance results look better.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, right, meets with DAV national commander Joseph Johnston at the DAV 2014 National Convention on Saturday in Las Vegas. McDonald, a former Procter and Gamble CEO who took the top VA post July 30, spoke to veterans during his Las Vegas visit.(Photo: David Becker / Associated Press)
As the VA's Inspector General launched an investigation, later joined by investigators from the Justice Department, whistle-blowers at VA hospitals and clinics across the country came forward to describe similar patterns.
A preliminary report issued in May concluded that the problems of delayed care and manipulated records were systemic. Then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned May 30 and his chosen replacement, Robert McDonald, was confirmed by the Senate in July.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1pdHxyG
Entities 0 Name: Obama Count: 3 1 Name: VA Count: 3 2 Name: Department of Veterans Affairs Count: 2 3 Name: Phoenix Count: 2 4 Name: Miller Count: 2 5 Name: Justice Department Count: 2 6 Name: David Becker Count: 1 7 Name: VA hospital Count: 1 8 Name: Robert McDonald Count: 1 9 Name: Associated Press Count: 1 10 Name: Procter and Gamble Count: 1 11 Name: Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald Count: 1 12 Name: Joseph Johnston Count: 1 13 Name: House Veterans Affairs Committee Count: 1 14 Name: Jeff Miller Count: 1 15 Name: Phoenix VA Count: 1 16 Name: Eric Shinseki Count: 1 17 Name: Charlotte Count: 1 18 Name: R-Fla. Count: 1 19 Name: Senate Count: 1 20 Name: Las Vegas Count: 1 21 Name: Dr. Sam Foote Count: 1 22 Name: VA Inspector General Count: 1 23 Name: FBI Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1qkyoTT Title: No Link Found for Deaths and Veterans' Care Delays Description: An investigation by the watchdog office for the Department of Veterans Affairs has been unable to substantiate allegations that 40 veterans may have died because of delays in care at the veterans medical center in Phoenix, according to a letter from the new secretary of Veterans Affairs.
