Flake says things are improving at Phoenix VA medical center
Jan 14, 2015, 6:15 PM | Updated: 6:15 pm
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake says things are improving at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Phoenix.
He made the statement today after visiting with the hospital’s interim director, Glenn W. Grippen.
“We feel that things are improving, certainly, and if the gauge is what complaints or information comes into our offices and through the congressional offices, that’s certainly the case,” Flake said.
The medical center was ground zero for last year’s national VA scandal. There were complaints of long wait times and reports that up to 40 veterans died while awaiting medical care. The director at the time, Sharon Helman, was fired.
The senator said today that complaints from veterans have shifted away from wait times at the hospital. There are now more complaints from those who live 40 miles or more away from the hospital and opt for private care, with the understanding that they will be reimbursed by Veteran’s Affairs.
“Getting reimbursement from the VA system for that seems to be the biggest holdup right now, and we’re still working through those issues,” said Flake.
He said that now that Helman is out of the way, there should be a push for a permanent director for the facility. Flake said that Grippen is doing a great job after coming out of retirement to take the interim role. Now it’s time to find someone who is permanent.
“There’s a lot going on here,” Flake said. “They’re going through kind of a seed change of how this care is delivered. This facility here has limits, so they are trying to move most primary care out to the clinics. That’s a big change. There’s a lot of renovation that’s going on here as well that will make it difficult moving ahead.
“We need somebody with vision and accountability, and that can only come when we have a permanent director.”
Flake did not know when one will be hired.
