Lowey: Veterans Deserve Answers on Health Care

Letter

Lowey: Veterans Deserve Answers on Health Care

One year after The Washington Post expose of patient neglect and substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today led her colleagues in requesting that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs report within ninety days on steps taken to improve the quality of care at veterans' health facilities.

"It has been a full year since The Washington Post exposed the neglect and deplorable conditions to which injured veterans were subjected at Walter Reed," said Lowey. "After having sacrificed their health and safety for us, veterans deserve to know what steps have been taken in the past year to ensure they receive the care they deserve."

Report language accompanying the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act - and based on a bill introduced by Congresswoman Lowey - urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the quality of our nation's veterans' health care facilities. Lowey and 39 colleagues today urged the VA to submit this report within ninety days so that Congress and our nation's veterans can evaluate progress.

The full text of the letter to Secretary James Benjamin Peake follows:
Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are writing regarding report language accompanying the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act that urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the quality of our nation's veterans health facilities. Almost one year ago, reports on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center highlighted weaknesses in the ability of health care facilities to provide the care veterans and active military personnel need. Recent reports continue to raise concerns about the quality of care, including substandard care at an Illinois Veterans hospital. To improve the quality of health care for our veterans, we urge you to submit to Congress within ninety days a report outlining the quality of veterans health facilities according to the report language below:

"The Committee urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the quality of Veterans Health Facilities under his jurisdiction. This report shall include quality measurements that allow for an assessment of effectiveness, safety, timeliness, efficiency, patient-centeredness and equity. The report shall provide the data used to make these determinations, including, but not limited to, the staffing levels of nurses and other health professionals; rates of nosocomial infection; the volume of various procedures performed; hospital sanctions and other violations; the quality of care for various patient populations including female, geriatric, disabled, rural, homeless, mentally ill, racial and ethnic minority populations; the availability of emergency rooms, intensive care units, maternity care and specialty services; the quality of care in various hospital settings including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, maternity and intensive care units; outgoing patient safety initiatives; and other measures deemed appropriate by the Secretary."

The data included in this report will help improve our veterans health facilities by identifying weaknesses and strategies to remedy them and provide veterans with the information necessary to make informed health care decisions. Provision of this information in a timely manner will help ensure that we provide our veterans with the high quality care they deserve. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Nita M. Lowey (NY-18)

Source