Dr. Benishek Demands Transparency from Veterans Department

Statement

Congressman Dan Benishek, Michigan's only member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, co-authored a bipartisan letter to the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (IG) and Secretary Robert McDonald calling for further investigation into the recently revealed problems at the Tomah, WI VA medical center. An IG report that was not immediately released to the public or the House Veterans Affairs Committee detailed allegations of abuse of authority and over-prescription of narcotics at the facility.

"Dependence on prescription drugs is a crisis for American vets, and we must ensure that VA facilities are equipped to handle this challenging issue," said Dr. Benishek. "As a doctor who worked at the VA, and as the father of a veteran, I am committed to holding the VA responsible and conducting vigorous oversight of these pain medication practices."

The letter calls on the VA to answer a number of questions related to current procedure to address opioid dependence and asks about the progress of the Opioid Safety Initiative, which was put in place to combat the over-prescription of these drugs. The letter also questions the procedure followed by the IG that led to the report being not widely released.

"Even the appearance that the IG is hiding evidence or shielding VA from public criticism undermines its credibility and brings its independence into question," said Dr. Benishek. "If necessary I will take legislative action to ensure that IG investigations remain an effective tool for improving VA service and care for our veterans."

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