Ayotte: Audit Underscores Urgent Need for VA to Address Waitlists

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs patient access audit released today, which found that more than 57,000 veterans are currently waiting for appointments at VA facilities across the country. The report indicated that the VA Medical Center in Manchester and the VA hospital in White River Junction, both of which serve New Hampshire veterans, are not among those flagged for further review and investigation.

"No veteran should have to wait more than 90 days for an appointment, and New Hampshire veterans should be given the choice of seeing a private provider so they don't have to wait in line or be forced to travel hours to seek care," said Senator Ayotte. "The bipartisan VA reform legislation being crafted in the Senate will help address the systemic, nationwide problems detailed in the audit released today, and I'm hopeful the Senate will quickly take up this legislation once it's finalized to make sure veterans can get the timely care they deserve."

Last week, Senator Ayotte wrote to VA Inspector General Richard Griffin requesting audit data relating to facilities serving New Hampshire veterans.

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