Gregg Zoroya of USA TODAY writes VA investigators find patients' health care compromised
Delaying medical care to veterans and manipulating records to hide those delays is "systemic throughout" the Department of Veterans Affairs health system, the VA's Office of Inspector General said in a preliminary report Wednesday.
"Our reviews at a growing number of VA medical facilities have thus far provided insight into the current extent of these inappropriate scheduling issues throughout the VA health care system and have confirmed that inappropriate scheduling practices are systemic throughout VHA," the report says.
Some 1,138 veterans had been waiting longer than six months just to get a appointment to see their primary doctors, investigators found.
The investigation has confirmed there were multiple secret lists. A physician has alleged these delays have led to 40 deaths of veterans waiting for care, however, this initial report has not confirmed any deaths.
Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla.,immediately called on Shinseki to resign immediately.
Wolf Blitzer was interviewing Senator John McCain in CNN when the story broke about 15 minutes ago, and McCain said Shinseki should ask himself if he can really lead the VA out of its difficulties given these circumstances, and called on the FBI to get involved because criminal allegations are involved.
CNN is reporting the IG report alleges reported of bullying, sexual harassment, multiple secret waiting lists, and 1,700 veterans on no lists at all.
11:17 AM PT: The IG's report also indicates the Justice Department has joined the investigation to determine if crimes were committed.
Since launching the investigation the IG has "receive numerous allegations daily of mismanagement, inappropriate hiring decisions, sexual harassment and bullying behavior by mid- and senior-level managers at this (Phoenix) facility," that have been left on its office phone by anonymous callers.
11:26 AM PT: CNN's staff has provided written documention of the reports I reported seeing on TV in the main post in Troubling report issued on VA; McCain says Shinseki should go
The report also found "numerous allegations" of "daily of mismanagement, inappropriate hiring decisions, sexual harassment, and bullying behavior by mid- and senior-level managers" at the Phoenix facility.
CNN has reported that in Phoenix, the VA used fraudulent record-keeping -- including an alleged secret list -- that covered up excessive waiting periods for veterans, some of whom died in the process.
He also said embattled VA Secretary Eric Shinseki should probably resign, which the Cabinet officer has said he has no plans to do.
"I haven't said this before, but I think it's time for General Shinseki to move on," McCain said.