Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs To Resume Healthcare Quality Data Sharing

Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs just announced it will restart data sharing its healthcare quality numbers the day after USA Today exposed what the agency was doing.

VA said it will start sharing its numbers on October 1. Over the summer, VA stopped sharing its data on Hospital Compare. This is a website run by the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is required to share the data by law following exposure of the wait list scandal in 2014.

QUOTES ABOUT VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUE

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) does not believe the announcement’s timing is a coincidence.

“The fact that the VA and HHS have now decided and announced they will follow the law — only after national press disclosure — proves the importance of transparency in fixing the problems plaguing the VA,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Rep. Jeff Miller also found the lack of transparency suspicious:

“VA’s lack of transparency is infuriating, but it’s not at all surprising, as this isn’t the first time VA has chosen to ignore a law designed to improve VA’s performance and help veterans and taxpayers,” he said.

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/13/va-start-sharing-quality–care-data-again-national-consumer-site/90328478/

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47 Comments

  1. The only issue here is accountability. The law was broken, the withholding was intentional, and the person who made the decision to do so walks away scott-free. It does not accomplish anything to hold the VA accountable for anything in other words, the actors in this game have no fear of consequence. Whatever the reason, it was done in silence, without regard to the rights of the people it serves. If someone in a non-VA hospital did the same thing, million dollar fines would be handed out, people fired, and prosecution pursued to the last man to insure that the safety of the public was guaranteed.

    But the VA? Nothing happens. It is forgotten, the same shysters are still running the show. The game has not changed one iota from the status quo. This is not the actions of a professional government administration, it is organized criminal behavior which should be investigated under RICO statutes.

  2. I’m beginning to see the VA as an addict. I keep hearing from them, I promise next time. For years they have been able to get away with it; lying, stealing, bribing, ignoring, and killing. I believe in relapsing, sometime a few times before you catch on. Sometimes, ya have to hit bottom. VA has hit bottom, and still the addict. Mr. President, I feel like a rat, but, The VA has been on the bottom a long,long time, and I can’t see any hope that the VA is capable of healing.

  3. Interesting article on Fox News about an Army Green Beret who did 8 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    He dived into shallow water to save what he thought was a young girl who was missing, broke his neck and is paralyzed.

    The Army was going to boot him out under a bad discharge claiming he used bad judgement on diving into the water and drinking and drug use.

    The Green Beret is claiming the Army ignored his requests for help with PTSD.

    The Army claims he doesn’t have PTSD, but has “adjustment disorder”.

    How the hell does a guy enter the military, become a Green Beret and serve 8 freaking combat tours and fail to adjust?

    If you read the article you might want to skip the comments. Lots of assholes that don’t understand how a guy with TBI and PTSD from 8 combat tours might make a bad decision.

  4. In light of the current WikiLeaks, I have one question I would really like to ask Robbie McDonald.

    How much was paid to put him in Charge of the Veterans Administration?

    “WikiLeaks’ Guccifer 2.0: Obama Sold Off Public Offices to Donors, Corruption doesn’t start or end with Hillary”, By Michael Sainato, The Observer dot com 09/14/16 11:00am
    “https://observer.com/2016/09/wikileaks-guccifer-2-0-obama-sold-off-public-offices-to-donors/”

    “Included in the leak was a list of high-profile donors from 2008 and the ambassadorship they received in exchange for their large donation to the DNC and Barack Obama’s Organizing For Action (OFA).

    Essentially, Obama was auctioning off foreign ambassador positions and other office positions while Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state. The largest donor listed at contributions totaling over $3.5 million, Matthew Barzun, served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2009 to 2011, served as President Obama’s National Finance Chair during his 2012 reelection campaign, and now serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

    The second largest donor, Julius Genachowski, donated just under $3.5 million to the DNC and OFA, and in exchange was appointed chairman of the FCC by Obama in 2009.

    The third largest donor on the list, Frank Sanchez, donated just over $3.4 million and exchange was appointed to Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade by Obama in 2010.

    A 2013 article published by the Guardian corroborates the pay-to-play scheme this list suggests. “Barack Obama has rewarded some of his most active campaign donors with plum jobs in foreign embassies, with the average amount raised by recent or imminent appointees soaring to $1.8m per post, according to a Guardian analysis,” wrote Dan Roberts.

    “The practice is hardly a new feature of U.S. politics, but career diplomats in Washington are increasingly alarmed at how it has grown. One former ambassador described it as the selling of public office.””

    Brings up another question after they murdered Chris Stevens and awarded Laurence Pope the ambassadorship. Besides Stevens life and the 3 other Americans lives how much did they pay to put Laurence Pope in as ambassador.

    Given, in 2000, Ex-president Bill Clinton nominated him as Ambassador to Kuwait but his appointment was not confirmed by the Senate. It was likely the Clinton Foundation. Just wondering how much money changed hands added to the murders?

    1. In light of the recent WikiLeaks it seems clear Robbie’s has worked hard to reshape the Veterans Administration to something representing the wishes of The Bank of New York Mellon.

      The Bank of New York Mellon which has $25 trillion in assets in custody. Source: Wikipedia

      One of the many ways where it is clear they benefited having Robbie as the Secretary of Veterans Administration is the new Hep C Drug. Gilead is partially owned by The Bank of New York Mellon.

      Robbie you fucking murderer how much did they pay?

      1. Is there also some remote connection with The Bank of NY Mellon and a Holding Co. related to the VA’s Luxury Hotel in France? I may be mixing it up with something else but this somehow seemed right? Correct me if mistaken, please.

      2. Yes, Namnibor,

        The 5 Star Luxury Hotel in Paris named Pershing Hall is owned by the VA and is managed by Pershing LLC. Pershing pays into a fund that is directly controlled by Robbie in connection to the Hotel.

        Pershing LLC being a wholly own subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon. Pershing has nearly $1 trillion in assets under administration. Pershing LLC is also backed by “The Bank of New York Mellon” which has more than $25 trillion in assets in custody. Source: Wikipedia

      3. Also Namnibor,

        We can expect to hear a lot more very quickly.

        Something that is not being covered in the news is the attempt murder of Putin on September 6, 2016. It was the day he returned from the G20 Summit. We are very close to war at this time. Russian news agencies are saying it is likely they will try to kill Trump.

        “Vladimir Putin’s official black BMW was totaled in an incident and killed his personal driver. However, the Russian President was not in the car at the time when it was struck head-on by another vehicle which crossed over from the opposite side of the road.”

        “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKsvket0wps”

      4. I have tried to post more information about what is on but some of my post are being blocked that contain certain information are being blocked. I believe they are being blocked on my end.

  5. In light of the current WikiLeaks, I have one question I would really like to ask Robbie McDonald.

    How much was paid to put him in Charge of the Veterans Administration?

    “WikiLeaks’ Guccifer 2.0: Obama Sold Off Public Offices to Donors, Corruption doesn’t start or end with Hillary”, By Michael Sainato, The Observer dot com 09/14/16 11:00am
    https://observer.com/2016/09/wikileaks-guccifer-2-0-obama-sold-off-public-offices-to-donors/

    “Included in the leak was a list of high-profile donors from 2008 and the ambassadorship they received in exchange for their large donation to the DNC and Barack Obama’s Organizing For Action (OFA).

    Essentially, Obama was auctioning off foreign ambassador positions and other office positions while Hillary Clinton served as secretary of state. The largest donor listed at contributions totaling over $3.5 million, Matthew Barzun, served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2009 to 2011, served as President Obama’s National Finance Chair during his 2012 reelection campaign, and now serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

    The second largest donor, Julius Genachowski, donated just under $3.5 million to the DNC and OFA, and in exchange was appointed chairman of the FCC by Obama in 2009.

    The third largest donor on the list, Frank Sanchez, donated just over $3.4 million and exchange was appointed to Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade by Obama in 2010.

    A 2013 article published by the Guardian corroborates the pay-to-play scheme this list suggests. “Barack Obama has rewarded some of his most active campaign donors with plum jobs in foreign embassies, with the average amount raised by recent or imminent appointees soaring to $1.8m per post, according to a Guardian analysis,” wrote Dan Roberts. “The practice is hardly a new feature of U.S. politics, but career diplomats in Washington are increasingly alarmed at how it has grown. One former ambassador described it as the selling of public office.””

    Brings up another question after they murdered Chris Stevens and awarded Laurence Pope the ambassadorship. Besides Stevens life and the 3 other Americans lives how much did they pay to put Laurence Pope in as ambassador.

    Given, in 2000, Ex-president Bill Clinton nominated him as Ambassador to Kuwait but his appointment was not confirmed by the Senate. It was likely the Clinton Foundation. Just wondering how much money changed hands added to the murders?

  6. Very interesting. I would suggest you search on “hospital compare”, go to the HHS web site and pull up your VA.

    Most of the stats will show not available, but you might click through and find a few where VA claims to be 100%.

    What is the VA worried about if the stats are so fake Ray Charles could see it?

    Why are so many entries showing “not available” rather than the most recent stats available?

    Why do so many VAs show their ER care is unavailable? Is it because their ER is not accredited to the same level as a private hospital? My VA claims to have an ER, but the HHS site shows they don’t provide emergency services.

    WTF? Really?

    From the stats that ARE shown, it would be well worth it to dig deeper and find how they came up with the number. Many VA stats look good because they are samples rather than hard results.

    Finally, if private hospitals are mandated to provide this data, what makes VA so special they don’t have to report the same data?

    How many employee bonuses would be lost if true statistics were reported? Historical data at this site might help determine whether bonuses paid were actually earned.

    Ps: as you are surfing around that site, pick 2 private hospitals in your area to compare to your VA, and ask yourself, if a small community hospital can handle the burden of this reporting, what is wrong with the VA?

  7. Went to the VAMC at Lake Baldwin, Orlando, Florida today.
    I’m not going to boor y’all with the details. —-

    Looks like I might have to receive eye surgery for cataracts.
    When the optometrist explained I would have to travel to the “new and improved” Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida VHA. I explained to him;
    1.) The “time frame” to receive the surgery (6 months) is unacceptable.
    2.) The “distance”, (over 50 miles/ one way) is unacceptable.

    I explained, and he agreed, I was eligible for the “Choice Program”!
    I explained that my wife had her cataracts removed at Filotouski (sic) a few years ago. And they had the surgery done, on both her eyes, within a month or two.
    I’m still debating. This is something big. I may do it out of my own pocket.

    One thing the wife and I did notice there.
    1.) A lot less people working there. A “retired Former Marine” said there is something happening. Yet wouldn’t expound on it. I’m thinking their transferring all the people to Lake Nona!
    2.) There’s a brand new beautiful 8 to 10 foot fence around it. A fence one would expect to see around a
    Multimillion dollar home in Beverly Hills, California. Similar to the one around the White House, only nicer! We asked when it was built? They said it was finished about two weeks ago.
    Where’d they get the money? They just laughed!
    This fence is miles long! I’m not exaggerating one bit. I wish we had taken pictures.

      1. Also Elf,

        Bare minimum if you can afford it get a second opinion. Seems to me you mentioned that they couldn’t figure out what the problem was but are now saying it is cataracts.

        For your own safety I really hope you can get a second opinion from a private Doctor not connected to the VA. Don’t tell the private doc that you have been seen by the VA for the problem.

        As has been point out on a vid by a retired doctor talking about Hillary. The Government can suspend Medicare and Medicaid payments then audit a Doctor who speaks up against a Government doctor. They can even go back three years prior and make the Doctor repay everything he has received from Medicare and Medicaid. For during that three years.

        So don’t tell him that the VA has seen you for it.

      2. Seymore,
        On that “fence”, there are some “sliding gates”, (at various entryways), and brick tall towers, about 10 to 12 ft tall & 2 to 3ft square, and they’re about every 18 to 20 ft. apart from each other.

        As far as my eyes. I’m thinking very serious about seeing a private opthalmologist, soon.
        That’s what I should have been seeing all along.
        The wife and I have to discuss this issue more!
        I’ll let you know our decision!
        Actually, all the vha optometrist has “claimed” is I have “high pressure in both eyes”, (corrected with medication), and I’m “glaucoma suspect”, (yet, he will not admit this could have been done by that explosion)!
        All medical literature we’ve read, said “glaucoma can, more likely than not, be caused by a ‘traumatic’ incident or injury…” (an explosion is that)!

      1. I am thinking the words that best describe the end result are Concentration Camps or Internment Camps.

    1. “”https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/snowden-backers-press-obama-for-pardon-before-presidency-ends/ar-BBw9QC6?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=AARDHP””

      1. namnibor,
        When Obama leaves office, I bet he surpasses all previous presidents on pardons.
        Bill Clinton did over 400 in his last three or four months.
        Do you really believe he’ll pardon Snowden?

      2. I would not really think Snowden will be pardoned but…it’s out there and now on POTUS brain to ponder. Sorry to hear about the eye stuff. If you can have Choice do it and where you know they do good work (your wife’s eyes), then you just have to decide if you want to ride this Disney Ride.
        What’s up with such a massive fence system around that new VHA? Are they trying to keep people IN or OUT? 🙂

    2. I’m curious why Snowden is suddenly begging for a pardon.

      Just a few days ago I saw a headline about Snowden lashing out at his Russian hosts.

      Seems someone may be putting the screws to Snowden.

      1. The MSM does not cover an attempted assassination of Putin but covers Snowden. Cannot believe a word put out by the MSM on anything.

        Everything they say is not to provide the news but biased to shape a narrative they want believed.

      2. Funny thing is that the website I use to read Russian news is showing: error message Secure Connection Failed
        Who’s hacking who now. MSN is days late reporting news thats why I go to ‘other’ countries to find out whats happening not only here but over there.

  8. When the VA just sort of cavalierly decides to not follow the law, it’s really no different than that person that cannot be bothered to flush the john after leaving the stall, knowing all along there was someone still sitting in the stall next to them. No courtesy flush. Rogue. The VA is rogue and they are testing the waters of their porcelain bowl.

  9. My father used to say figures don’t lie but sometimes those who make up the figures do. Based on what I have had done to me at the hands of the va, the data is garbage. Garbage in, garbage out. GIGO.

  10. There are 4 veterans in this household. 3 have been & still are on the wait list for a doctor in central CA for so long I’ve lost track of the months.

    Radiology billed me 4K+ for preapproved authorized non-VA care for the MRI stating “We have filed your insurance. You are now responsible for the amount indicated in Patient Balance Due” I sent them back their bill with a note that Providers may not bill Veterans for any services. I sent a copy of the bill to Robert McDonald & asked him to find the time to look into our VA. We’ll see how that plays out.

    1. If this was under the Choice program…I have been told repeatedly that a private doctor seeing patients under the Choice program is not allowed to bill a veteran for payment as a part of their agreement with Choice.

      Nothing was said about the VA or Choice not paying the provider.

      Which makes me wonder about another FOIA or two that should be submitted to the VA.

      One asking for a generic Choice agreement a private provider signs to participate in Choice.

      Two. Asking for any examples of the VA going after providers for billing veterans for care when not paid by Choice.

      If its a part of their agreement not to bill a veteran, what is the VA doing against the provider when that agreement is violated?

      I doubt the VA is doing a damn thing.

      I also wonder about the huge drop-off in chatter from veterans having problems with Choice. Is that because so many veterans have given up on trying to use Choice?

      1. 91Veteran,
        I believe your correct on vets giving up on the Choice Program, due to what private healthcare professionals are doing, ie; billing the vet, because Choice won’t pay.
        I’ve read many stories on here and elsewhere about this!
        I’ve also read where healthcare professionals are turning over past due bills to collection agencies before contacting the vet!
        Maybe that’s why vets are not applying!

      2. My choise MD refered me to a neuro surgeon, va did x rays , the neuro people wanted their own and sent me down stairs to do one. Received a bill for $1900, called the billing department and they told me it had not been authorized by choise

        Called the neuro clinic and the clerk told me that choise did authorize it and they would make all the phone calls to correct it, will see

    2. Update: I received a voice mail from Choice saying My Billing issue has been resolved. yippie!

  11. VA could have stalled Congress and law enforcement on this for many years. The media fixed VA ‘s lying wagon in less than 24 hours. Report what YOU know, to the media. Ben Krause is your best media contact for VA reporting.

  12. Hey, Seymore, I saw this last night on Fox News.
    I’m paraphrasing –
    “Stocks market down due to rate hike speculation!”

    I believe we’re in for a bad ride!

  13. When WE break the law WE GO TO JAIL…Why are there no charges being filed against those in the VA responsible for the reporting of this data? THEY BROKE THE LAW…THEY SHOULD BE IN JAIL…..I’m so mad I could spit…

  14. Let me ask you honestly my brothers; do you really believe that VHA will provide truthful data to anyone? I have so many letters written to my congressman with data that was so obviously misleading and false that they were reproted about in the newspaper. VHA cannot exist except for the ongoing deceptions pumped out of those buildings decade after decade.

    The agency is rogue. The agency has demonstrated over decades and generations a thirst for money and a complete disregard for morality, public law, patient rights, civil rights, medical ethics, and medical competance.

    Here in Oregon the full page spreads on VHA incompetance, vetean deaath, and VHA lies are published now on a bi annual basis. After the article published about the VHA misconduct in my case, the VHA responded by terminating my psychiatric care, again.

    VHA once taunted me on the phone about my use of Congressman Defazio to help me, “…and about your congressman, let me tell you what that guy can do; NOTHING!” Then my care was terminated. The VHA manager who shouted that to me over the phone was right. Comgressman Defazio wrote five letters for me and each only served to ramp up the retaliation. Congressman Defazio is a senior US congressman.

    And the VHA manager taunted me over this.

    Do you really believe that VHA will report anything that is even close to the truth? These people are dirty and no law will fix it. Each employee is indoctrinated and the honest ones leave or are quickly pushed out. Retaliation is not limited to patients.

    VHA must cease to exist or the maiming, death, lies, and corruption will continue. The one cannot exist without the other and we have generations of vets, billboards across the nation, and volumns of articles dating back before my birth to prove it. I have seen concerns that VA will not be there for vets.

    I am deathly concerned that they always will be.

    1. I truly do not believe factual statistics will ever be shown there.

      But I will Mark my calendar to keep an eye on that site for the BS the VA does report.

      I hope Ben does as well and reports on it.

    2. > do you really believe that VHA will provide truthful data to anyone?

      nope, nada

      as we all know, the VA has been doing this for decades.

      since no one in Congress has ever really held anyone accountable and forced change, the VA must simply be a cash cow for some gov officials and big biz. seems the only reason left that fits this VA thug scenario.

      rampant corruption on the highest order against veterans and taxpayers. the falsifying med records and going out their way to do everything NOT to correctly diagnose is just one of many corrupt tactics they use.

      and as you say, and many of us have felt the sting, VA is expert at retaliation against veterans and whistle blowers. they might even be good at blackmailing members of Congress?

  15. As a veteran of two militaries, Army then Navy. There’s something I’d like to say about the “Lake Baldwin, Orlando, Fl. VAMC!”

    Years ago, While in the Navy, this VHA was a Navy Hospital on a Naval Training Center in Orlando!

    I went there three times, schoolings, to receive my “NEC”, (Navy job description), “Torpedoman”,(Subroc Tech), 1977, 78 & 79!
    I had to go to this “hospital” a few times, due to illness or other issues. One time was for my eyes!
    While there, I was treated extremely well. Not only that, the “corpsman”, nurses, doctors, etc. were outstanding. Not only in their “expertise of medicine”. But, their attitude and RESPECT, toward ALL military personnel.

    Since then, in the 1990’s or early 2000’s, the Naval base has closed and the VA has taken over.

    I remember the “great care”, and RESPECT, I received there! Only, now, it’s a thing of the past.

    The “care” one receives now is mostly incompetence by individuals who believe they know everything.
    In my opinion, most people who work at that clinic are a waste of taxpayers money.
    I’ve watched employees yell and scream at veterans, only because the veterans were standing up for themselves. My wife was yelled at by the optometrist I see for my eyes. Because she knew more than him on “cataracts”! Why, because she had cataracts at age 54, and an outside medical center, “Filotouski”, (sic) removed them. She has all the literature to back up what she knew to be true! He apologized the next appointment! The point is, he should have known better!

    There’s other horror stories about this VAMC. But, I believe y’all get the picture.

    Like I said, the kind of medical care one received when it was a Naval Hospital is “…a thing of the past!”

  16. What will be next come October 1- Dec. ’16 when the VA yet again fails to share “required data” but only gives the pixy dusted versions when it’s clearly not the case just evident by current events and the VA is only selectively letting data out to HHS? Will the VA use a similar excuse of, “The dog ate the homework of what we were supposed to release so we did our next best, and fabricated it?”

    Was this one of the very first chess moves of the newly emboldened and bolted-down deck chairs on the V.A. Titanic? If this was their expendable pawn, what’s really up their sleeves?

  17. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala., who has introduced legislation requiring the VA to report even more information on medical center performance, noted that the requirement in the Choice Act was “not a suggestion, it’s the law.”

    “We can’t require the VA to go in and fix a failing medical center if we don’t have access to the data which shows that it’s a failing medical center,” she said.]”

    There’s much more to this story and I suspect the VA was trying to conceal the amount and frequency of Infectious Breakouts at various VA facilities and more. A LOT can take place in 18 months with the VA, let alone -1- week. I do not believe for one minute this was “bureaucratic red tape”, this was the “petulant child, the VA”, simply acting-out while the VA readies all it’s VAMC’s for Halloween Hungry, Hungry Hippos. The Asylum is now open. Warts and all.

    1. I agree it wasn’t red tape or any kind of bullshit agreement that the VA could not reach with HHS. That excuse never made sense since they were sharing the data before, and it was required by law.

      How many federal agencies decide to ignore laws because one agency has a pissing contest with another?

      1. THEY’RE ALL COVERING EACH OTHER’S ARSES TO JUST KEEP THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN WITH NO CHECKS AND BALANCES, UNFETTERED ACCESS TO TAX PAYER MONEY! IT GOES ON IN ALL OF THEM AND KIASER PRES DAVID LAWRENCE TAUGHT THEM THE WAY ALONG WITH STATE & FEDERAL LEGISLATORS OKAY CAUSE THEY GOT THEIR HANDS IN THE NEVER ENDING SUPPLY OF MONEY TOO ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILY & FRIENDS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SUCKERS!

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