Rep. Lujan Grisham's Response to the Veterans Administration Inspector General Report

Statement

Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement today in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General's (VAOIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program Review of the New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS).

"The findings in the VA Inspector General's report add to a long list of troubling issues at NMVAHCS which ultimately jeopardize veteran health care and well-being. The NMVAHCS continues to be one of the worst performing hospitals in the nation and will only improve when corrective actions are implemented immediately and continuously. I continue to wait to receive Director Welch's VA improvement plan to address ongoing staffing, wait time, and patient care issues. We have an obligation to ensure that New Mexico veterans and their families receive the best healthcare and services in the nation--anything less is a failure to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much. In the coming year, I look forward to working with my colleagues on enacting my legislation to increase oversight and accountability at underperforming VA Hospitals."

The VAOIG report highlighted numerous risk factors and issued 20 specific recommendations to the NMVAHCS to improve patient care and safety. The full VAOIG report is available for download here.

On December 6, 2017, Congresswoman Lujan Grisham sent a letter to Director Welch at the NMVAHCS requesting both an internal audit and his improvement plan outlying specific steps the facility is taking to address issues in patient care. A copy of the letter is attached.

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