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REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE

December 12, 2007

Brown-Waite Seeks to Reduce Waiting Times for VA Outpatient Health Care

For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence, (202) 225-3527

Washington, D.C. — The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (O&I) and the Subcommittee on Health held a joint hearing today on outpatient waiting times at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities.

The primary focus was to assess issues identified by the VA Inspector General (IG) regarding VA’s calculation of its outpatient waiting times. VA reported that 95 percent of outpatient appointments are scheduled within 30 days of the desired date. However, the IG asserted that VA records show that only 75 percent of such appointments are within 30 days of the desired date.

The IG testified that VA had not corrected problems with outpatient scheduling procedures, which were originally uncovered in 2005, and the accuracy of the data VA uses to calculate outpatient waiting times is still unreliable.

“When a veteran or physician calls to schedule an appointment, they should be able to receive an appointment that is timely and appropriate to the medical needs of the veteran,” O&I Subcommittee Ranking Member Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) Brown-Waite said.

“On January 4, 2007, I introduced H.R. 92, the Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act, which would make the standard for a veteran seeking primary care from the Department of Veterans Affairs 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the Department. Unfortunately, this bill is needed because current practices do not meet that goal.”

“If veterans are having problems receiving care within 30 days, then Congress needs to allow them to look for an alternative. My bill is not a move toward privatization; it simply ensures veterans receive care in a timely manner.”

“Our veterans did not wait to answer the call to duty. They answered their nation’s call, and many returned to us injured and in need of care. We must ensure that such care is delivered without delay.”

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Larry Scott  --

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