Mesabi Daily News: Hibbing VA issue addressed in private
MOUNTAIN IRON — U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and State Sen. Dave Tomassoni met privately today with former employees of the Hibbing VA Clinic, who have alleged that they were ordered to backdate medical records.
The allegations are serious. The former VA workers have said that they were required to backdate medical appointment schedules to make it appear that some veterans were being seen far sooner than when the appointments actually took place.
In addition, they claim that employees have also complained of a hostile work environment, and a policy and attitude that put profits ahead of the wellbeing of veterans.
Nolan said the meeting was held at an undisclosed location to protect the former employees from retaliation for coming forward.
The congressman said he and staff have been closely monitoring the situation in Hibbing on an ongoing basis in consultation with county VA service personnel.
The allegations of backdating at the Hibbing clinic were originally reported by the StarTribune.
Earlier this month, Nolan, along with Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, asked Veterans Administration Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin to look into the charges and report back to them at the earliest possible date.
“These allegations — that appointments were intentionally backdated, that their work environment has been hostile, and that profits are being put before the wellbeing of our veterans — are very troubling. Senator Tomassoni and I appreciated the opportunity to hear personally from these former Hibbing VA clinic employees. It takes courage to come forward. I assured them I will share what we heard today with the VA Secretary, the Inspector General and with my colleagues,” Rep. Nolan said following the meeting.
“I will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this, and to making sure that all our veterans receive the excellent and timely care they have so valiantly earned.”