Following Deaths at West Virginia, Arkansas, and Georgia VAs, Chairman Pappas Presses VA on Failed Oversight

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing examining issues with the credentialing and privileging of clinicians in light of incidents where veterans have been harmed.

The hearing entitled: "Broken Promises: Assessing VA's Systems for Protecting Veterans from Clinical Harm" sought to understand the lack of accountability and systemic issues hindering the VA from complying with policies put in place to safeguard proper patient care and safety.

"From West Virginia to Arkansas, instances of professional misconduct and negligence have ultimately resulted in the deaths of veterans in VA medical facilities," said Congressman Pappas. "It is clear that there have been systematic failures to properly identify and report claims of abuse or criminal behavior. We have a duty to take care of our veterans, and the full Committee is committed to working together in a bipartisan manner to get answers and understand what policies need to be implemented to ensure our veterans are not victimized again."

Congressman Pappas took the opportunity to press the VA on why they have failed to implement recommended guidance provided by the Government Accountability Office to help prevent these issues, after promising to do so two years ago to the same Committee.

"The reports from the incidents in Arkansas and West Virginia are shocking and make it clear that there are issues with VA's credentialing and privileging process. We need to know that VA is equipped to identify clinicians who are negligent, abusive, or commit criminal acts-- and that they will prevent them from practicing. There was clearly a pattern in place— we need to ensure VA has the tools they need to identify problematic providers and ensure incidents like these never happen again," said House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano.

You can watch Congressman Pappas's opening statement HERE.

Background:

The Office of Inspector General is currently investigating three alarming incidents at VA facilities in both Arkansas and West Virginia. At the VA medical center (VAMC) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Dr. Robert Levy, a pathologist, allegedly misdiagnosed up to 3,000 veterans between 2005 and 2017. So far, VA officials have acknowledged that at least 15 veterans have died and another 15 veterans have suffered harm as a result of Dr. Levy's botched diagnoses. He has been charged with 3 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the matter. The OIG is also investigating at least 11 deaths at the Clarksburg, West Virginia VAMC, two of which have now been ruled homicides. Additionally, a physician at the Beckley, West Virginia, VAMC allegedly sexually assaulted "more than a dozen" patients. Each of these cases spotlights issues with VA's hiring, credentialing, and reporting practices for clinicians that the subcommittee looks to address.