Benishek Reacts to VA Hearing on Major Cost Overrun

Press Release

The Committee on Veterans Affairs held an oversight hearing today on the implementation of the VA's FY2015 Budget. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which oversees the VA health care system, currently estimates a budget shortfall of $2.6 billion in the Medical Services and Medical Support and Compliance accounts. The shortfall is driven by increased demand for non-VA care and rising costs of Hepatitis C treatments, which were both discussed at the hearing. VHA currently expects that these factors will also result in a shortfall in the fiscal year FY 2016 budget as well.

"Despite consistently increasing the budget for veterans care every year for nearly a decade, we continue to hear excuses from the VA about their inability to efficiently and effectively provide services. It is clear that no one is being held accountable for their actions at this Department. Though we have given the Secretary the power to remove problem employees, he has thus far yet to do so. Now, the Congress must act to once again clean up a mess caused by poor management at the VA," said Dr. Benishek, who served at the VA as a surgeon for two decades.

The VA's cost overrun follows reports that the Department experienced a billion dollar over-budget construction project at a facility in Denver, CO and other reports that the VA has only spent $500 million of the $10 billion allocated for the Veterans Choice Program that was signed into law last year.

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