Veterans Health Care

The Special Investigations Division has prepared investigative reports on health care issues of importance to veterans.

Latest News

Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Mental Health Care at the West LA VA Center

In a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Chairman Waxman requested information regarding mental health care at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Last year, a review conducted after the death of five patients identified serious deficiencies in the facility’s mental health program.

Hearing on Mental Health Problems Confronting Soldiers Returning from Iraq, Afghanistan

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on mental health problems confronting soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Committee heard from afflicted soldiers and their families, examined the ability of the DOD and the VA to screen, treat, and track returning soldiers who are at risk, and assessed the impact that these illnesses are having on military readiness and military families.

Walter Reed Investigation Prompts Military Health Reforms

Within a week after the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held the first hearing on the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed, the top Army officer at Walter Reed resigned. This hearing and three others held by the Committee and the Subcommittee also prompted a series of reforms in the care of wounded soldiers and veterans.

Former Head of Walter Reed Hospital Testifies Before National Security Subcommittee

On March 5, 2007, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing today on the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Subcommittee heard testimony from affected soldiers, family members, and military officials.

The Impact of President Bush's Budget on Veterans' Health Care in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District

At the request of Rep. John F. Tierney, this report analyzes the impact these proposals would have on veterans in Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District.

Disabled Veterans Tax

Over 160 Democrats have cosponsored the New G.I. Bill of Rights for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2131). This legislation would, on January 1, 2006, eliminate the Disabled Veterans Tax for all retired veterans with at least 20 years of service. Passage of H.R. 2131 would result in a rapid increase in benefits for hundreds of thousands of veterans.

Veterans Healthcare

President Bush's budget plan would have a dramatic impact on veterans. According to Bush Administration estimates, they will force over one million veterans, almost half of the Priority 7 and Priority 8 veterans, to drop out of the VA healthcare system. And veterans who remain in the VA healthcare system will be forced to pay hundreds of dollars annually in new costs.

Southern California Veterans Wait Months For Disability Benefits

A new report released by Rep. Waxman finds that thousands of disabled veterans in Southern California wait months before receiving veteran’s disability benefits.

Waiting Times For Veterans's Disability Assessments

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is having severe problems providing injured veterans with benefits in a timely fashion. In October 2004, VA reported that over 300,000 veterans were currently waiting for disability assessments to determine if they would receive benefits for injuries they received in combat. Many of these veterans must wait months in order to obtain benefits. A new Special Investigations Division report investigates the long waits faced by disabled veterans.

Waiting Times for Veterans Health Care

Concerns over waiting times at clinics run by the Department of Veterans Affairs have been increasing for almost a decade. In response to these concerns, Congress passed legislation in 1996 requiring the VA to provide “timely” care to veterans, and the VA established a national goal of scheduling all nonurgent primary and specialty care appointments within 30 days. The VA pledged to meet this goal by 1998. A series of Special Investigation Division reports investigate waiting times at VA primary and specialty care clinics.

Proposed Restrictions on Access to VA Health Care

In February 2003, President Bush released his proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2004. The budget would halt enrollment in VA health care for many veterans, denying them access to any VA care. In addition, the budget would charge other veterans who are currently in the VA system a $250 annual enrollment fee and increase co-payments for doctor’s visits and prescription drugs. The budget narrowly passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on April 11, 2003, adopted these proposals. A series of Special Investigation Division reports analyze the local impact of these changes.

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