House lawmakers have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the Department of Veterans Affairs' transparency in its efforts to improve patient wait times in its facilities across the country, according to a report from The Hill.
Although the VA claims its Accelerating Access to Care Initiative has led to roughly 200,000 more medical appointments for veterans from May 15 to June 1, lawmakers are skeptical. The Veterans' Affairs Committee has yet to review the data, even though it has asked VA Secretary Sloan Gibson to brief members on the initiative on two separate occasions, according to the report.
The House convened on Monday where Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) asked VA senior leaders "If the VA's work has indeed led to 200,000 more appointments for veteran patients so far, what is there to hide?"
Thomas Lynch, an assistant deputy under secretary at the VA, said the VA is in a position where it must reestablish its integrity and suggested an outside party be brought in to review the department's information, according to the report.
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