Manchester, NH — Today, Governor Chris Sununu is announcing an executive order allowing physicians and physicians assistants who aren’t licensed in New Hampshire to help provide care for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients in the state. This order comes on the heels of recent flooding at the Manchester VA facility as a result of a burst pipe. The pipe malfunction at the facility caused significant damage and led to the cancellation of approximately 250 appointments for medical attention.
The VA recently removed top officials at the Manchester VA after a scathing Boston Globe report alleged that the facility is putting veterans’ lives at risk due to extremely poor conditions and delayed care. According to the Globe, 11 physicians and medical employees stepped forward about poor conditions at the Manchester facility.
Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Policy Director Dan Caldwell issued the following statement:
“The health and safety of our veterans should always come first. We applaud Governor Sununu for lifting these burdensome regulatory barriers and allowing all hands on deck in the midst of this crisis.
“We urge Secretary Shulkin to continue investigating the ongoing mismanagement at the Manchester VA. Regardless of the outcome, this entire situation underscores the need for expanded choice for our veterans. If veterans cannot receive the care they need through their local VA, they should certainly have the ability to quickly access private sector care.”
VA Secretary David Shulkin met with veterans in Manchester earlier this month to discuss these incidents and announced the removal of several VA employees at the hospital in connection with those incidents.
CVA released a statement in July following the release of the Manchester VA allegations calling on Congress to provide greater health care choice for veterans so they are not forced to receive care from a facility that is not meeting the needs of its patients.
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