If you or someone you know is experiencing issues pertaining to the Phoenix VA Medical Center, please call our Phoenix office at 602-956-2285.

Phoenix VA Information Center

I am deeply disturbed by the delays in care and false record-keeping at the Phoenix VA Medical Center, which may have caused the deaths of some 40 Arizona veterans. Equally unacceptable are actions taken by Phoenix VA administrators to destroy evidence and retaliate against whistle-blowers.

Arizona veterans and their families need answers, and those responsible must be held accountable. We must work together to restore our veterans’ trust and the public trust in the VA health care system. I vow to help veterans and veteran families in any way I can and urge families to reach out to my office so we can help.

You can read the VA Inspector General's Final Report on the Phoenix VA here.

Taking Action

Since allegations of long wait times and false record-keeping emerged, we have taken several steps to address the crisis at the Phoenix VA. We will update this section as we continue to work to find answers and improve care for Arizona veterans. Our most recent actions are listed first.

• Called on the VA to fire senior Phoenix VA managers who manipulated wait-time data.

• The VA fired Phoenix VA Director Sharon Helman on November 24, 2014

• Met with Interim Phoenix VA Director Glen Grippen and requested a plan to improve care for veterans at the Phoenix VA.

• Called on VA Southwest Region Acting Director Kathleen Fogarty to visit the Phoenix VA Medical Center immediately upon assuming the role of Acting Director.

• Urged the VA to resume publication of wait-time data at the Phoenix VA

• The VA resumed publication of the data on November 6, 2014

• Hosted a meeting of our Veterans Mental Health Working Group, which has met periodically since June.

• Questioned the VA's definition of "timely access to care" for determining VA wait-time goals.

• Called on the VA Office of Inspector General to release all OIG reports on the Phoenix VA.

• Called on the VA to present a plan to fix The Joint Commission compliance report.

• Hosted a second Veterans Healthcare, Benefits and Resources Clinic in Tempe to get veterans the care they've earned.

• Released our Veteran Resource Guide to connect Arizona veterans with services and resources available to them.

• Hosted a bipartisan special order on veteran suicide prevention in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month.

• Called on the VA to hire a permanent director for the Phoenix VA Medical Center.

• In August, the VA announced plans to implement our plan to improve primary care for veterans.

• Passed bipartisan VA Reform legislation.

• The bill was signed into law on August 7, 2014

• Brought Arizona veterans' concerns to VA Sec. Robert McDonald. at a private meeting in Phoenix.

• Cosponsored bipartisan legislation allowing military sexual trauma survivors to get care outside the military and VA if they choose.

• Introduced bipartisan legislation that claws back bonuses fraudulently paid to VA employees who manipulated wait-time data.

• Demanded accountability and protections for VA whistleblowers.

• Spoke at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing with the family of Daniel Somers about our work to prevent veteran suicide.

• We also co-hosted a briefing with the Somers and Rep. Scott Peters on our work to prevent veteran suicide

• Called on the VA to take action ending its "culture of non-responsiveness" to whistleblowers. 

• The VA announced plans to restructure its Office of Medical Inspector in response to the recommendations highlighted in the Sinema-Salmon Letter.

• Requested a bi-monthly briefing for Arizona's Congressional Delegation on the status of the work to get care for veterans at the Phoenix VA. 

• The VA agreed to provide these briefings. Phoenix VA Acting Director Costie held the first one on July 11.

• Organized a Veterans First clinic helping approximately 400 Arizona veterans get immediate access to care. 

• Called on Phoenix VA Executives currently on leave to resign, return bonuses and pay they've collected while on administrative leave.

• Introduced legislation to reduce VA wait times by expanding the VA's use of existing community provider primary care contracts

• Offered a motion calling for the House and Senate to adopt language from the bipartisan Sanders-McCain VA Reform bill and send a final bill to the President's Desk

• Called on the administration to establish a Blue-Ribbon Commission to address excessive wait times at the Phoenix VA. 

• Spearheaded a working group of community providers and veterans service organizations coordinating care for veterans waiting for care at the Phoenix VA. 

• Partnered with the American Legion to help Arizona veterans at the American Legion Veterans Crisis Command Center

• Cosponsored and Passed H.R. 4810, the “Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014” 

• This bipartisan bill would cut wait times at VA medical facilities by expanding the VA’s use of community providers. The bill would also suspend employee performance bonuses for three years.

• Cosponsored and Passed H.R. 2072, the “Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act of 2013” 

• This bipartisan bill would hold the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for addressing problems identified by the VA Office of Inspector General (VAOIG). It would also prevent the VA from paying performance bonuses to poorly performing employees.

• Met with Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson and presented a specific plan to help the thousands of Arizona veterans who need care immediately

• Called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans' access to care using all available resources community providers.

• Called for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki's Resignation

• Requested a Department of Justice Investigationinto the Phoenix VA

• The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Cosponsored and Passed H.R. 4031, the “Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014.” 

• This bipartisan bill improves accountability and protects veterans by giving the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs greater authority to hold underperforming senior executives accountable and to remove them for poor performance. 

• Passed a bipartisan amendment with Rep. Matt Salmon to increase funds available for the VA Office of Inspector General "for an investigation into the alleged misrepresentation of appointment times and the deaths of veterans at the Phoenix VA Hospital." 

• The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the final bill passed the House on May 1, 2014.

• Questioned VA officials about the quality of care at the Phoenix VA during a House Veterans Affairs Committee Field Hearing in Arizona.

• Sent a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki demanding answers about the Phoenix VA and requesting a briefing for Arizona's Congressional delegation

• Called for a full investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG)

• On April 25, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the OIG had opened an investigation into the Phoenix VA.