TOMAH – Concerned Veterans for America is responding to Senator Tammy Baldwin’s comments today regarding her response to the crisis at the Tomah VA hospital. At a luncheon with WisPolitics today, the Associated Press quoted Baldwin claiming she had done “what needed to be done” to fix the problem.
The organization said Baldwin’s claim that she had adequately addressed the problem is evidence she is out of touch with the ongoing problem with health care at VA hospitals in Wisconsin and around the country.
CVA recently released a television and digital ad highlighting Baldwin’s inadequate response to the Tomah problem, and urging her to support legislation that strengthens opportunities for veterans to choose the best care for them (the Veterans Care and Community Access Act of 2017).
CVA-Wisconsin Coalitions Director Luis Cardona released this statement:
“The reality is that Senator Baldwin’s office sat on an inspector general report detailing opioid abuses at the VA for months, while a whistleblower pleaded with her staff to step up and take action. They did nothing until the story became public. That is why we are working to educate Wisconsinites on Baldwin’s poor track record when it comes to veterans care, and urging her to support legislation to strengthen the choice program.”
BACKGROUND
CVA Launches $1.5M Ad Campaign Highlighting Baldwin’s Tomah VA Record (cv4a.org, 4 Feb 2018).
Bad Medicine: Tomah VA Pharmacy Hit with Temperature Surge (MacIver Insititute, 5 Jan 2018).
“A climate-control malfunction last month at the Tomah VA Medical Center outpatient pharmacy may have compromised medications and, ultimately, the health of veterans who took the prescription drugs, sources told MacIver News Service this week.”
CVA has recently been urging Congress to take action on legislation to stabilize the VA health care system so that Congress can move on to broader structural improvements to the Veterans Health Administration. The group has expressed strong support for the Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017, introduced by Senators Jerry Moran and John McCain.
The grassroots group also recently praised the White House for making several strong recommendations on how to reform the VA’s choice and community care programs – including creating clearer standards for when and how veterans can access care through community providers.
CVA Applauds White House for Support of More Health Care Choices for Veterans (cv4a.org, 24 Jan 2018).
For years, CVA has advocated for substantial health care reforms at the VA. In CVA’s Fixing Veterans Health Care Taskforce, the group advocates that veterans should have the option to take their earned health care benefits and use them to access care at the VA or in the private sector.