Letter to Barrack Obama, President

Letter

Dear Mr. President,

Recent allegations of secret waiting lists at the Phoenix VA Medical Center and reports of mismanagement at other medical centers have shaken the trust of our veterans in our nation's ability to follow through on the promises we have made. The men and women who have served in our armed forces have been promised medical care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and our nation must honor that promise.

These allegations have led the House Veterans Affairs Committee to launch an ongoing investigation of the Phoenix Health Care System, which uncovered evidence that as many as 40 veterans may have died while waiting for care from the VA. Meanwhile, additional allegations have been made public of secret waiting lists at other VA medical centers across the country. These allegations are too pervasive and numerous for the VA's inspector general to handle alone, and our veterans need to know that their VA medical centers will be there for them.

While I appreciate your appointment of Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors to review VA scheduling policies and patient safety rules, veterans need a deeper examination of the VA's operations and patient priorities. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller asked you in a May 13 letter to establish an independent, bipartisan commission on VA access and veteran harm. I wholeheartedly endorse Chairman Miller's proposal and believe that this commission is a necessary step to address the mismanagement in the VA health care system. The size and scope of the VA's failure merit the creation of a national commission to protect and speak up for our veterans.

As you consider this formation of a committee, I encourage you to prioritize the voice of our rural veterans. The needs and challenges facing our nation's rural veterans are often marginalized, despite the fact that 41 percent of the veterans enrolled in the VA health care system live in rural areas.

I have the privilege of representing the people of West Virginia in Congress, and my home state enjoys a proud tradition of military service. Nearly 10 percent of West Virginia's residents have served in the armed forces, and many live in rural areas and face challenges in obtaining timely services.

Rural veterans have challenges that separate them from other populations served by the VA. They are typically older, with the majority having fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The typical rural veteran is also more likely to have at least one service-connected disability and is more reliant on the care provided by the VA.

Veterans living in rural areas also face geographic barriers in obtaining VA services. Many of the veterans in my state have to drive for hours to receive care from their local VA medical center. Our disabled veterans have to rely on their local communities for transportation to the medical center for treatment, which typically requires setting up appointments for multiple veterans at the same medical center to reduce the amount of trips taken to the VA. Due to the infrequency of available shared transportation, a veteran may have to spend multiple days away from home just to receive medical care. As you examine how to respond to the VA's systemic issues, I urge you to remember the needs of our country's rural veterans and give them a voice on any commissions or panels you create.

The creation of this commission would not be without precedence. President George W. Bush established the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, also known as the Dole-Shalala Commission, to improve the health care, benefits and access to services for our soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the recommendations made by this commission have been essential in improving the treatment of our veterans. We need a VA health care system that works for our veterans, and that is not what many of our veterans have been experiencing.

Our veterans must receive the same amount of care and dedication from the VA that they have given to their country. We have made a sacred promise to our veterans, and we must stand by our word. Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito
Member of Congress

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