Congressman Nolan, Sen. Tomassoni, Meet With Former Hibbing VA Clinic Employees Over Allegations that Appointments Were Backdated

(DULUTH, MN) – U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and State Sen. Dave Tomassoni met privately today with former employees of the Hibbing VA Clinic regarding allegations that up until late April of 2014, they were ordered to backdate medical appointment schedules to make it appear that some veterans were being seen far sooner than when the appointments actually took place.

The former 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 out of concern by the former employees that they would suffer retaliation for coming forward. 

Nolan and his 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 brought to light in a series of Minneapolis Star Tribune articles. 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.

Following today’s meeting, which took place in Mountain Iron, Nolan said:

“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. 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.”

Last summer, Nolan held a Veterans Round Table in Hibbing during which some veterans and family members complained of poor treatment by the Hibbing staff, delays in the approval of non-VA care, and concerns about their consistent access to prescription medications. The clinic is currently being managed by third party contractor Sterling Medical Associates.