va accountability

Veterans Affairs Perverts Trump VA Accountability, Retaliates Against Whistleblower

va accountability

Veterans Affairs is immediately showing its true colors by thumbing its nose against President Donald Trump and his whistleblower protection law.

Just one week after Congress voted to approve tighter whistleblower protections law, one idiot VA executive thought he would test the new law by attacking one of the most prominent whistleblowers over the past three years. Scott Davis, a public affairs officer, has exposed that VA purged its database of veterans wrongly denied healthcare benefits.

After testifying to Congress, VA has allowed one of its goons to attack Davis and now limit his access to various databases, which prevents his ability to do his job. And, if he cannot do his job, he will get fired.

It sounds like the new accountability laws stand to be perverted by slimy VA executives who intend to retaliate against already known whistleblowers in an attempt push the limits of the law about to be signed into effect by President Trump.

According to the Washington Examiner:

In emails shared with the Washington Examiner, Davis was told that he would no longer have access to the document management system.

David told the Washington Examiner that it’s becoming unclear to him what work he can do at the VA at this point.

“I don’t know,” he said when asked. “Nothing.”

Davis said he has not been told explicitly that his job is being phased out, but said that is the effective result of the VA’s decision.

“This is how they’re going to get rid of me as a whistleblower,” he said. “For them to do that is clearly targeting a single employee.”

VA officials in Georgia did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. A spokesman in Washington said only that Davis’ employment status “has not changed.”

Davis was one of several whistleblowers who told the Washington Examiner in May that retaliation against employees who point out the VA’s flaws is getting worse. Davis said then that he was reprimanded for not taking orders about website content from an official who was not his direct superior, and predicted that he would be fired soon.

“It’s a fast track to termination,” he said then.

In April, Davis revealed that the VA had failed to contact hundreds of thousands of veterans seeking healthcare by mail last year. Data provided by Davis showed that almost half the letters the VA sent out to veterans bounced back.

No question many VA executives believe the new Trump law will help them quickly terminate employees they do not like. If Trump fails to belt them into submission, how will this affect the next steps to reform the agency?

Source: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/va-whistleblower-who-testified-in-congress-stripped-of-job-duties-in-atlanta/article/2626435

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54 Comments

  1. What’s happening to Mr. Scott and other whistleblowers (as Trump’s legislation moves forward) is not some rogue VA manager or group of VA employees thumbing their nose at the VA Accountability Act of 2017, it is them showing us they know this VA Accountability Act is a joke and their tool to go after whistleblowers….so why wait for Trump to sign it??? Let the carnage begin NOW!!!

    Again, and like I’ve been saying for the longest, the VA has been doing these things to whistleblowers and treating veterans like crap because THAT’S THE VA!!! It’s not a rogue SES, manager, or group of employees doing these bad things and it won’t stop.

  2. im trying to figure out the Title: PERVERTS? where in the article is there someone doing something Perverted? Keep Hope alive, Trump and Accountability does not sound good in the same sentence, or is a fkn “whitehouse” Reality Show….

    1. mk, to pervert something is to alter it’s original course or mission to a state of corruption. VA Officials who retaliate against whistleblowers ARE indeed “perverted”.

  3. Update – – – Right now the VA is struggling in finding me a new PCP. I terminated my VA PCP, then about 10 days later this same VA PCP sends me a Medical Order to start Tapering Off of a Pain Medication.

    I’m calling the VA on their Course of Action for Medical Treatment as well. VA wants me to Wean Off the Pain Medication, and then take SSRI’s for my Chronic Pain, and other pains, and PTSD, plus all the other symptoms.

    My intentions are to make the Medical Order for Tapering, and then Weaning Off of Pain Medication, is to get this to be invalid. The VA PCP who wrote the Tapering Medical Order, was my ex-VA PCP when she created the documents.

    The other areas are that the VA has never once talked with me about the use of my pain medication. I never received any written materials about how being on pain medication long term, and what to expect. T

    The only thing in detail that I’ve received from the VA, is the information that are stapled to your VA Medicine paper bags when you go to the VA Pharmacy. – – – Nutter.

    Updates to follow . . .

  4. @Ben – – – Whoa, look at this. We’ve got BAD VA Headline, BAD VA Art, and now, we caught him, the BAD VA Employee. The BAD VA Art attached to today’s article, was pulled from the personal files, and then the authenticity will be valid for passport.

    Getting back to the BAD VA Employee that is looking at the other female’s hind quarters, and seems to be measuring her thighs. Now this isn’t right. What man would not look at a woman’s if it was put right in front of him?

    Here’s the question folks; “Is the VA Employee a BAD Employee, because he got caught measuring the woman’s behind that was in front of him?” “Or, is this VA Employee OK, because many men would do the same thing?” “Do we hold this VA Employee accountable for anything?” What do you think? And, . . .

    Do we give Ben’s VA Art, a Good Mark or Bad Mark? Yes, if you’d like, you can scroll up again so that you can see Ben’s VA Art Work. “What do you think about today’s VA Art?” – – – Nutter.

    Following, on and off, back and forth, . . .

  5. “Appoint Special Prosecutor To Investigate Obstruction by Loretta Lynch, James Comey and The Clinton Email Investigation”

    Created by T.C. on June 10, 2017

    Sign This Petition, Needs 94,284 signatures by July 10, 2017 to get a response from the White House. Also share the link!

    “https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/appoint-special-prosecutor-investigate-obstruction-loretta-lynch-james-comey-and-clinton-email-investigation”

  6. Hey, namnibor,
    You appreciate my sick comedic stance on certain things.

    Well, this has to do with Ben’s “bad VA art” today! What I would have drawn on it are three things;

    1.) A “caption” above the “male silhouette” would be the word (“High Ranking Union Representative”) in a “cartoon bubble”!

    2.) A “caption” above the “female silhouette” yelling “NO, Stop, Leave me alone!”, “I’m a Whistle-Blower!” in a “cartoon bubble”!

    3.) Then, to tie it all together, A drawing of a small penis, representing “Little Cox”, trying to fuck the female veterans administration employee, who “blew the whistle on a bunch of high profile VA employees!”

    See, I told y’all I have a warped sense of humor!

    1. Of course, if the picture were “animated”, the female “silhouette” could quickly turn around and use the “poop cannon” on the union representative!
      That would have been hilarious!

  7. Ben,

    I disagree with your conclusion that VA is thumbing its nose at POTUS. This is not what this is. They are directly challenging his authority.

    POTUS has a Choice Program of his own designed by The People and it is called The Constitution. POTUS can choose to participate or not and it doesn’t matter how far the godamn crow flies with this Choice Program because he is enrolled by The People. POTUS has stepped up and communicated the will of The People to those whom The People give their bread to and said, “Here is the LINE YOU ASSHOLES and you better not cross this godamn line or you have ME to deal with.”

    Ben, VA crossed the line. Again. They are not taunting POTUS at all – they are communicating that the line in the sand goes away when you piss on it and that they need no dealing with POTUS to survive. They challenge his authority and they do not care who the ME is in the name of the current POTUS and have not for a long time. They could give a shit whose picture is on the wall because they all make pretty good dart boards. This cannot change without a COMPLETE change of the guard down to every last man and woman at this agency including (and maybe especially) a complete dismantling of union rights by federal employees. This is not status quo either because status quo precludes growth and the numbers show us clearly that VA is a growth agency. I would say behemoth.

    My proof is in the decades and lifetimes past now who have tried to fix this and have failed without so much as making a dent in the problem.

    1. Apathy is just as corrosive as the corruption we fight with the VA. I would go as far as the VA quite relies heavily on Veteran Apathy. It’s even in the VA namesake; Veteran Apathy.

    2. @[email protected]: What you say is true about blowing all the whistles. That is because nobody gives a shit. Our biggest obstacle is finding a way to change that. We can’t give up, we have to find a way to penetrate the impenetrable. We need to force it down their damn throats if necessary. I am ready, have been ready, and stand ready for those of us that are able bodied enough.

      This is damn war, whether anyone realizes it or not, we have traitors that hold political office obstructing the will of the people. The same traitors are responsible for not holding anyone accountable at the VA. The deaths of thousands of Veterans are on their hands, and they need to be taken down. Our political system was never meant to concentrate power in DC, as it stands right now, nobody in DC is even following the damn Constitution, so with that, I ask, what good is the Constitution if it no longer exists? Yes, we are definitely at war. What should we be doing about that? Answer that, and you answer all else.

      1. @cj – – – I’m going to send each and every one of our dedicated, secretary cigaring Politicians, a box of Double Chocolate Natural Chip Cupcakes, loaded with a couple boxes of Ex-Lax chocolate squares. We will be able to watch them run. Right to the poop hole. – – – Nutter.

    3. There are a lot of dam things that are getting done. May be not on the Main Front, but things are happening on the Personal Front with the BENEFICIARY (Veteran) against the VA. I have this going on in my own situation with the VA.

      I say this. When you deal with the VA, be ready to deal. They are going to test you. I know, it fucking makes no sense for this kinda stuffs to happen. But, that’s the VA. But what I’m saying is this;

      “If you can hold the VA accountable in something, you did something good, no matter how you look at it. But, I’m talking about the times that you let the VA slide out of being held accountable. These are the times that I’m talking about.”

      Plus, no matter how long that something has been going on, and that it seems like it will never change, be better, or be different, there will always be areas that will be discovered that changes things. There are ALWAYS undiscovered ways in the areas of Judicial and Medical Laws. Newly discovered information equals changes in the future. You can bet on this. Don’t believe me? Look at your life. Go back 30-40 years and tell me what is different from back then until now. What do you think?

  8. Here’s two articles out by “military.com/Daily News” today.
    #1.)
    From Amy Bushatz (reporting)
    Titled:
    “VA To Detail Proposed Changes To Caregiver Program”

    It’s seems many have “…met the criteria…” yet were denied! Can y’all say: SOP by VA!

    #2.)
    via: “St. Louis Post-Dispatch”
    by: Chuck Raasch (reporting)
    Titled:
    “VA Secretary Believes WWII Vets’ Claims of Mustard Gas Exposure”

    “Shithead Shulkin” will believe this, yet won’t believe Vietnam Veterans over Agent Orange exposure or Gulf War exposures! HYPOCRISY at its finest!
    There’s more in this article y’all need to read!
    In this article, this would be the many reasons why veterans have a hard time believing in VA – especially “Shithead Shulkin”! Or anyone else for that matter!

    1. @Crazy Elf- That’s because from a VA bean counter perspective, those WW2 Veterans are *very few* and *low-picking* these days, whereas there’s a lot more Vietnam War-era Veterans….the VA will wait until every average Vietnam War Veteran is at a good ripe age of 85 to finally release documents they had all along showing the deadly effects on human beings when Agent Orange is anywhere near them.

      It’s all about counting those damn beans. Ten Beans: 7 Beans to VA mismanagement, 2 Beans to the AFGE and VSO Piggies, 1/2 Bean to weasel away, remainder 1/2 Bean might just make it to Veteran healthcare, maybe.

    1. OLDMARINE,
      Its been said, “A politician is a person who says one thing, and believes, (or ‘thinks’), something else!”

  9. Under the False Claims Act, a private citizen may sue an individual or a business that is defrauding the government and recover funds on the government’s behalf. The qui tam lawsuit is filed “under seal,” meaning that it is kept secret from everyone but the government to give the Justice Department time to investigate the allegations. Even the person or entity being accused of fraud is not told about the qui tam case. The qui tam lawsuit and supporting documents should provide the government with detailed information about the fraud.

  10. No bonuses, a closure of the 1165 VHA (small) clinics, arrest those who’ve committed waste, fraud and abuse, and a complete break-up of “the most corrupt union [In America]” is a start to what needs to be done! (I would also suggest the firing of “Shithead Shulkin”!)

    Until these four things are accomplished, we won’t see a turn-around in VA accountability and transparency.

    Also:
    Instead of allowing anyone to retire with full benefits, especially after being caught screwing veterans or taxpayers, take away all their privileges: Including bank accounts!

    Lastly:
    I believe President Trump has so much on his plate right now, (seems the Democrats are going to start impeachment proceedings if he fired Mueller), it’s hard for him to get anything done with the VA, DOD, DOJ and a few other agencies!

    We’re going to have to wait and see what his next step will be! Remember, he’s playing a very dangerous game with VERY dangerous individuals! Individuals who have been in power for quite some time!

  11. Benjamin- I must just state that the silhouetted image in today’s “Bad VA Art” of the male ass staring at the female’s anterior bothers me a tad. I get the “pervert” part of your article title, it just enrages me to think of how many sexist assholes work currently at every VHA location. Your chosen image today kind of brought that all home because they seem to not possess ANY ethics of ANY kind, other than those of a pervert.

    1. The VA’s “perversion” takes even more special form of brown-matter when it comes to LAWS they are supposed to follow. It would be amusing if not for the trail of dead Veterans by the VA’s indifference, as each and every band aid FIX to enforce a LAW or REG., the VA immediately weasels their way around it or just outright ignores it…just as they ignore dead Veterans sitting in VHA parking lots.

      In a mood already today. Sunrise walk by river and throw some rocks. Pretend AFGE Pres. little COX is each rock and his minions.
      Rant Out.

  12. Rise and Shine Veterans especially Disabled Veterans asked your Senators and
    Representatives of your State your belief how to improve Veterans Healthcare myself I believe if you are 100 percent service connected definitely need to get G4 implants from a Cosmetic Dentistry because their is absolutely not one works at a Veteran Medical Centers plus they are not one isn’t contact with the Veteran Affairs Admistation but their is Private Clinics knows how to put G4 implants but they want all the money up front from anyone even from the Veteran who is 100 percent service connected and three quarters of Veterans who is 100 percent service connected can’t afford to get a loan to get a loan to get the Cosmetic Dentistry Dentist to get the G4 implants. ..That’s my belief now it’s time Veterans what is your belief how to improve Veterans Healthcare. …..Semper Fi.

      1. Master Sgt …You can’t answer if you don’t know….kind of make’s sense doesn’t it .

      2. @Master Sgt. – – – Leatherneck asked: “That’s my belief now it’s time Veterans what is your belief how to improve Veterans Healthcare. …..Semper Fi.”

        Here is my Answer. Second Time for this same article. (Whew!)

        FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:

        1. Recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.

        2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.

        3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into housing for homeless veterans.

        4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.

        5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.

        6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in Hawaii? You need to be LICENSED in Hawaii. Same applies to all other states.

        7. Any claim a veteran submits that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. If a claim filed by a veteran is found to be a false one designed to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that a false claim was intentionally submitted.

        8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA.

        9. No AFGE, nor any other Labor Union business will be allowed to take place in any Federal Workplace. Conducting Union Business during working hours will be STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Should any government employee be found violating this provision, it will result in IMMEDIATE LIFETIME DISMISSAL FROM ANY/ALL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT.

        10. Attorneys for appeal will be retained at the former employee’s PERSONAL expense. U. S. Taxpayer’s will not be subject to payment of legal bills for incompetent personnel with regards to Governmental Employment.

        POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. Time for POTUS Trump to break up the AFGE. Most of our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS INCUMBENTS.

        Give their replacement’s one term to take care of Veterans who put aside their own personal lives to answer this nation’s call when she needed them.

        If they cannot MUSTER THE STONES to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well. Party should NOT MATTER. What SHOULD MATTER is their VOTING RECORDS ON VETERANS ISSUES.

        NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh or Congressional Baseball Team Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .

        We have now reached the next accelerative phase of our country falling apart. Country before Party. Principles before Personalities. Always.

        Disgruntled Veteran
        1973 – 1976 USMC
        1978 – 1993 USN
        Wounded Warrior
        Honolulu, Hawaii

  13. Seems the VA Swamp has coagulated into an even thicker poo stew.

    The VA requires a massive enema that is preceded by a few depth charges to break things-up.

    We Veterans need to be those depth charges. Figuratively and objectively.

    “The sleeper has awoken”–‘Dune’, Frank Herbert.

    Scott Davis– We have your back and are positioning & manning the poop canons. Remove ALL umbrellas from the VA to ensure a good even coverage of shit on thick shit.

  14. 06/21/2017

    Dear Benjamin Krause,

    So the two Pages authored by management [Instructions on handling Corrective Actions] located at the Elevator, ground floor, at the Phoenix VA is fake?
    This is then called Fraud.

    What do we do with people when they commit fraud?

    Sincerely,

    Don Karg

  15. its hard to drain the swamp when the shit is so thick it wont go down the drain and still clinging to the side of the tub

    1. This goes beyond any President. Trump is clearly unconcerned. I actually agree with cj. One difference: Until we get an unlimited Medicare/Medicaid Card or other such unlimited for life care, do not eliminate something like Obamacare to go around the VA for those that can afford it. It should not be that way, but any vet that might PROVE just how inadequate VA care is can help change things.

      1. That would be at least 22 Veteran Suicides each and every day in USA, that shows the low point of inadequate and indifferent care at the VA by these rat bastards.

  16. Good article, Ben.

    Delay, Deny, Hope Veterans Die has been the watchword of the VA for the last thirty years. If any employee shows any amount of Honesty and Integrity in dealing with veterans healthcare or compensation claims, they are immediately identified and assigned to the Shitbird Target List. Then the VA and AFGE go HARD after them.

    And the (mostly) uninformed American Public thinks America’s Warriors are being taken proper care of based upon the blatant LYING the VA does with their TV commercials. Rotten Bastards!

    Fortunately, I have been able to begin to gently educate a few folks on just what REALLY happens with the VA and AFGE – – – and I daresay your readership will be picking up over time. One small step at a time – – – and one day we will complete the thousand mile march.

    Our battles overseas were far less stressful than our war here at home. Never Cruel or Cowardly. Never Give Up. Never Give In. We are on the Righteous path.

    I have never been one to gripe about problems without attempting to provide a solution. Here is what I think needs to be done in order to FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:

    1. Recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.

    2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.

    3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into housing for homeless veterans.

    4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.

    5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.

    6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in Hawaii? You need to be LICENSED in Hawaii. Same applies to all other states.

    7. Any claim a veteran submits that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. If a claim filed by a veteran is found to be a false one designed to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that a false claim was intentionally submitted.

    8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA.

    9. No AFGE, nor any other Labor Union business will be allowed to take place in any Federal Workplace. Conducting Union Business during working hours will be STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Should any government employee be found violating this provision, it will result in IMMEDIATE LIFETIME DISMISSAL FROM ANY/ALL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT.

    10. Attorneys for appeal will be retained at the former employee’s PERSONAL expense. U. S. Taxpayer’s will not be subject to payment of legal bills for incompetent personnel with regards to Governmental Employment.

    POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. Time for POTUS Trump to break up the AFGE. Most of our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS INCUMBENTS.

    Give their replacement’s one term to take care of Veterans who put aside their own personal lives to answer this nation’s call when she needed them.

    If they cannot MUSTER THE STONES to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well. Party should NOT MATTER. What SHOULD MATTER is their VOTING RECORDS ON VETERANS ISSUES.

    NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh or Congressional Baseball Team Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .

    We have now reached the next accelerative phase of our country falling apart. Country before Party. Principles before Personalities. Always.

    Disgruntled Veteran
    1973 – 1976 USMC
    1978 – 1993 USN
    Wounded Warrior

  17. Curious that you use the word “perverted” because I just started a piece entitled DVA Perverts the Rule of Law at West Los Angeles.
    There, the Deeds (we found one for beachfront property) will be discussed with a Senior Advisor on Thursday the 22nd and the grassroots veteran organizations will have their time to let DVA know how we feel about the non-veteran special interensts, Brentwood School and UCLA Baseball using land that was specifically and permanently (sic) donated for destitute and disabled Veterans (now that the count has risen). Stop the bonuses and see how fast problems get resolved.

  18. Mr Davis, there are a number of Veterans who would gladly escort you out and about and even down the halls and corridors of the VA. To hell with their cops, their senior executives, and the filthy two legged garbage cans taking VA paychecks every few weeks..
    To the VA employees, the sleeping giant is beginning to yawn……..

    1. MR SCOTT DAVIS FIGHT THESE VA DC HQ @ ATLANTA SEWAGE RATS FROM AFGE UNION HELL WATCH YOUR 6 THEY WILL KILL YO BUY ACCIDENT ON POPURSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. A related article with addistional actions that Scott Davis’s supervisor has take against Davis.

    “Veterans Affairs official files FOIA request to spy on whistle-blower”
    by Pete Kasperowicz | Jun 20, 2017
    Washington Examiner

    “A Department of Veterans Affairs official has taken the novel step of filing a Freedom of Information Act request against her own VA department in order to learn what a whistleblower has been saying about her.

    The whistleblower is Scott Davis, a well-known VA official who has testified in Congress and has made several TV appearances about the troubled VA. He told the Washington Examiner on Monday that he was stripped of some of his final duties in his Atlanta job, weeks after warning that retaliation against whistleblowers is on the rise at the VA.

    The other VA official is Angel Lawrence, director of the Health Eligibility Center in Atlanta. Lawrence filed a FOIA request to obtain any email Davis might possess that was sent between Lawrence and any other VA employee.

    Her filing was backed up in an email obtained by the Washington Examiner. In that email, a subordinate emailed Davis to note Lawrence’s FOIA request, and asked that Davis comply with it by last week:

    “From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    Sent Tuesday June 13,2017 3:44 PM
    To: Davis, Scott, MS
    Cc: VHA MS Services FOIA
    Subject: FOIA request

    Good evening Scott;

    Please review the request below submitted by Ms. Angel Lawrence, HEC Director, Under the FOIA. Ms. Lawrence is seeking the following:

    Request copies of any and all electronic communications in Mr. Scott Davis’ possession (whether in hard copy form or electronic) that contain electronic conversations between myself and other VA employees where Mr. Davis was not a party.

    Please provide responsive documents, if any, by Friday, June 16, 2017.

    Thank you

    XXXXXXXXXXXXX|U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    Management Analyst |Office of Communications | VHA Member Services
    2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200|Atalana, GA 30329
    XXXXXXXXXXXXX

    Full article at: “https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/veterans-affairs-official-files-foia-request-to-spy-on-whistle-blower/article/2626458”

    1. Some of you may remember that I have been posting about the VA albatross at Hot Springs South Dakota. A VAMC that has been repeatedly slated for Closure since 1993. Even last fall McDonald put in the order in to close the Hospital but now Shulkin has had a change of heart and has let the Facility remain open.

      As everyone can recall that in early May Shulkin went before congress and told them that they had identified 1165 VA Buildings that he would like to close and he was considering using the Pentagon’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process as a model. So that politicians had a chance to protect buildings on their turf. It would also spread the closures out over a much longer period of time of 30 years. Not to mention the fact that they were the same buildings recommended for closure by the Commission on Care Report.

      The very next day following Shulkin statements on closures before Congress he then stated that he was not going close Hot Springs and that it would remain open.

      After the Commission on care report was submitted for follow through McDonald set the Hot Springs VAMC up for closure. He also tried to throw the AFGE Town a bone by order a VA call center was to be opened there. The call Center was supposed to be fully operational by last December but wasn’t. The funding had been approved by congress and it was part of the VA budget but nothing had been done to even start planning the call center.
      In March, Scott Davis, in a letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin, with documents to back up his claims, contended computer equipment had never been ordered through the VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OIT) for Hot Springs, that the project was mismanaged and creating a monthly backlog of over 24,000 veteran health care applications, and that the VA was trying to cover all this up.

      As it stands now the call center opened on June 14, 2017. Although it is intended to be staffed by 130 employees they have only hired 48.

      Since January of this year the new back log of unprocessed application for VA Health care has been raising at a rate of 24,000 per month. With the mission creep that is ongoing at the call center it is not likely go down anytime soon.

      The call center is supposed to handle 40,000 phone calls per day from veterans who are requesting healthcare from the VA or have questions about their VA healthcare eligibility or prescriptions. Additionally, they are talking about expanding the operation into the future, offering “Concierge Care” where Call Center employees would contact veterans – instead of the veterans reaching out to the VA.

      No doubt they will be using the Long Island V.A. Hospital Scam. Where internal emails, employee’s familiar with the alleged scheme where nurses were directed to make cold calls to veterans and then code those calls to look as though they had been solicited by the patient, not the practitioner, in order to enhance revenue.

      One of the nurses wrote in an email that the veterans were being used as “cash cows,” which the hospital administration wanted “to milk for $9 million.” The worth of each veteran in the scheme: $4,285.71. For no appointment and no care received.

      Sources:

      “Whistleblower: Hot Springs Call Center more ruse than reality”
      John D. Taylor Hot Springs Star Mar 21, 2017

      “https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/whistleblower-hot-springs-call-center-more-ruse-than-reality/article_95b94888-cdf5-5c8c-98b5-1190b1e350a2.html”

      “VA eyes building closures to boost care under Trump”
      By Ellen Mitchell – 05/24/17
      “https://thehill.com/policy/defense/334851-va-eyes-building-closures-to-boost-care-under-trump”

      “VA Call Center formally opens”
      By John D. Taylor 19 hrs ago
      “https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/hot-springs/va-call-center-formally-opens/article_1d44a114-5514-11e7-91a7-57733522cbc1.html”

      “Veterans Affairs official files FOIA request to spy on whistle-blower”
      by Pete Kasperowicz | Jun 20, 2017
      “https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/veterans-affairs-official-files-foia-request-to-spy-on-whistle-blower/article/2626458”

      “Deaths, Fraud Allegations and an Inquiry Into a Long Island V.A. Hospital”
      By KRISTINA REBELO and MARC SANTORASEPT. 19, 2016
      “https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/inquiry-into-northport-va-hospital-long-island.html”

      1. Meanwhile, at the Pentagon while you were sleeping:

        “WASHINGTON — The Pentagon wasted as much as $28 million over the past decade buying uniforms for the Afghan army with a woodland camouflage pattern appropriate for a tiny fraction of that war-torn country, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
        “”https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pentagon-blows-dollar28-million-on-afghan-army-uniforms/ar-BBCYfPQ?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=ientp””

        The Afghan Defense Minister picked the pricey, privately owned “forest” color pattern over free camouflage schemes owned by the U.S. government, according to an advance copy of the report due out on Wednesday. The scathing, 17-page study notes that “forests cover only 2.1% of Afghanistan’s total land area.”

        With the VA teaming-up with DoD on IT databases, what can possibly go wrong once the VA critters learn how to manipulate defense contracts to produce even more Veterans for job security?
        Picking ‘Forrest Green Camo” for desert and rocky area looking more like a mix of surface of moon and mars, may as well have gone with glow-in-the-dark patterns or bright pink. IDIOTS wasting $$$.

      2. Updated: June 22nd, 2017 seven hours ago.

        “VA announces plan to dispose of vacant buildings the next two years”, The Tuskegee News online

        From the article:

        “Following through on a key promise from less than a month ago, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin announced Tuesday a plan to dispose of all vacant VA buildings in 24 months (either by demolishing or setting for reuse).

        Dr. Shulkin had raised the vacant building issue as a priority in his “State of the VA” address delivered at the White House on May 31.

        Nationwide, VA currently has 430 vacant or mostly vacant buildings that are on average more than 60 years old, and cost taxpayers more than $7 million per year to maintain.

        Dr. Shulkin announced that, of those 430 buildings, VA has begun disposal or reuse processes on 71. Of the remaining 359 buildings, Dr. Shulkin announced VA will begin disposal or reuse processes on another 71 in the next six months, and plans to initiate disposal of the final 288 vacant buildings within 24 months.”

        Full article at: “https://www.thetuskegeenews.com/news/va-announces-plan-to-dispose-of-vacant-buildings-the-next/article_7f261fb8-5693-11e7-b5d5-533fc840a0d5.html”

  20. If the job duties are in the position description (PD) they cannot deny him access to databases if that is part of his duties. He is suppose to be given a job with a similiar PD before termination or a paid relocation.

    The appointment letters is one of the schemes the va clinics use to make clinics look fully booked.

    1. Yes, It is going to take a few employees getting fried until any accountability starts to happen. Otherwise, if the DOJ and the powers to be who are responsible for implementing and following the law do not adhere to the Accountability Act and do not hold employees accountable, the VA will collapse just like Venezuela. @Benjamin, Socialism never radiates success of any kind. Getting to your other topic Benjamin, VA Vocational Rehabilitation, I wonder why the VA even has this program. Just another way to waste taxpayer money. Let me explain. Many of those VA counselors in Vocational Rehabilitation do not have a clue about disabilities nor do they even care. Yes, Benjamin, they maybe Rehabilitation Counselors with CRC certifications but Benjamin many are forever not even honoring the ethics statutes established in / as part of their certifications.
      The Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor’s perspective about many veterans or their take on the veterans is not accurate. Their perspective does not match the reality of most veterans. Yes, Benjamin, they may have a piece of paper but this does not mean they are even qualified in anyway to retrain veterans who have disabilities. In my opinion, they are just administrators with no substance; but even too, sometimes, they do not even honor their employment positions as administrators for Voc rehab. I read your article about what was mentioned at the Voc Rehab forum you attended. Sounds all political to me and they are still avoiding their responsibilities. All corrupt as usual. I really do not care what they do because they are going to do what they want to do anyway. I am marching to my own tune. Benjamin, there are many existing opportunities right now in our country and many more are forthcoming as long as President Trump remains in office. All have a great day.

      1. Benjamin, and all, the VA had rather wallow in Chickenshit. It takes more time, more energy, and tons of more money to wallow in unethical and unlawful chickenshit. They can have at it because it is best what they represent. The VA single payer healthcare system is 100% Socialism. Socialism is all about crap. Socialism is not about lawfulness, success, and humaneness. I really do not even care anymore because they are not going to change. Do what they want to do. Bunch of Democrats, Liberals and Leftists. They are all hollow. Take care everyone.

    2. VA DC HQ SAME CRAP DIFFERNT DAY VA DC HQ ONE BIG BIG BIG FEDERAL RICO CRIME RAKET VETS SCREWED AGIN @ AGIN 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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