Hatch, Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Quality Care for Veterans

Press Release

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), released the following statement after introducing the Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act with Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and John Boozman (R-AR):

"Caring for our veterans is among my top priorities," said Hatch. "That's why today I am pleased to join Senators Ernst, Grassley and Boozman on the Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act. This commonsense legislation improves care for our veterans by mandating third-party clinical reviews of providers whose licenses have been revoked. It also holds the VA accountable for the quality of care the agency provides. This bill seeks to protect our veterans, just as they have worked so hard to protect us and our way of life."

The Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act requires that a third party review each case where any veteran was treated by a VA provider who was later found to have a revoked license.

Confirming that providers are thoroughly vetted--and that veterans and their families have the information needed to make informed decisions--is crucial to ensuring that the VA delivers the care veterans deserve.

Background:

Following a December 2017 report in USA Today by Donovan Slack that the VA hired providers with revoked licenses, the VA corrected course by taking appropriate human resources action and issuing new guidance to prevent health care providers with revoked licenses from being hired in the future.

While the VA is taking corrective action, the bill goes one step further by ensuring that every health care provider that was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with a revoked license undergo a third-party clinical review of that provider's care. If the review determines that a competent practitioner would have managed the veteran's care differently, the veteran will be notified.

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