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Paulsen Questions VA on Whistleblower Allegations

Washington, D.C.– In a letter addressed to Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert McDonald, Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) asked for clarification on recent allegations that the Minneapolis VA falsified medical records in order to decrease the size of their appointment backlog. Whistleblowers from the VA have stated that employees were told to record that patients had declined follow-up care when in fact they were not even contacted. In addition, two former employees say they were fired in retaliation for raising their concerns with VA leadership.

“These allegations are extremely troubling and must be fully investigated,” said Paulsen. “If true, the actions of managers at the VA put patients at extreme risk of not getting the care they needed – including for possible life-threatening conditions. It’s critical that we get to the bottom of this and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

In the letter, Paulsen points out that he met with Minneapolis VA leadership in June and was assured that the falsifying of documents had not occurred.

Text of the letter is available here.  

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov.

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