Blumenthal Statement On VA Audit Report

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) audit report on the Veterans Health Administration:

“I am disappointed the VA did not release today the location-specific audit information requested by the Connecticut Congressional delegation. Location-specific information is necessary to restore confidence in the veterans appointment scheduling process. I have no confidence in the accuracy of reported wait times that accompany the audit summary released today, as the audit itself found widespread use of inappropriate practices to make wait times appear more favorable. Among the glaring gaps in this audit is the failure to visit and clearly assess the West Haven Facility.

“While I appreciate the work of VA staff and health care professionals in the wake of the inspector general report, which outlined systemic issues at the Veterans Health Administration, I have no reason to trust these numbers without independent verification and additional context. I would like to know how the VA reached these numbers and the sources it used for them. For example, did the VA simply rely on local officials for these numbers, as it has in the past, or did the department dig deeper and verify them? This question and others should be answered. I can’t have faith in these numbers and give the VA credit for true transparency, until I know where the data came from and how it was compiled.”

Blumenthal is a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.