Rubio demands answers about VA wait times

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, RFla., wants answers after a recent report showed as many as 450 veterans faced long wait times for endoscopy procedures like colonoscopies at the Orlando VA Medical Center and that the hospital didn’t use a VA program that allows veterans to use community providers to help shorten the wait times.

Rubio sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on Thursday, asking for “an explanation on disciplinary actions that have been executed, and if there are none, the reason.” He also asked for information about actions taken by the VA to ensure that all Orlando VA departments adhere to community care rules and policies.

He wrote that he’s concerned that the delays in procedures posed “substantial danger and could threaten patient outcomes.”

“VA appreciates the Senator’s views and will respond to him directly,” wrote Heather Frebe, a spokeswoman for the Orlando VA Medical Center, in a statement. “VA has reviewed extensively the issues [Office of Special Counsel] raised, and the Orlando VA Medical Center reviewed every Veterans case referenced in the report, finding no patient harm.”

The allegations were filed last year by anonymous whistle-blowers with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which notified the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA launched an investigation of the Orlando VA Medical Center last March, confirming the allegations and concluding “that a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety exists at Orlando.”

The VA asked the Orlando facility to find the root causes of delays and take corrective action to make sure high-risk veterans get timely colonoscopies. It also asked the center to look for an inadvertent increase in wait times and to conduct leadership reviews at the gastroenterology department to ensure compliance with VA policies.

“Orlando VAMC developed an action plan to address all recommendations. Orlando VAMC has been making progress on these efforts according to the timeline established in its plan,” Frebe wrote.

She did not share what specific actions the Orlando VA has taken.