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Today at 10 a.m., a @AppropsDems @HouseAppropsGOP hearing on @DeptVetAffairs's 2021 budget and VA's response to #COVID19 so far.
@SecWilkie expected to testify. Live stream should be available here:
@SecWilkie expected to testify. Live stream should be available here:
The last time Wilkie testified before Appropriations was March 4, where he revealed for the first time a veteran had tested positive for #COVID19. Now, VA is tracking 13,657 cases (1,390 "active"), at least 1,200 patient deaths, 31 staff deaths. More here: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/democrats-accuse-administration-of-politicizing-va-budget
Since then, VA has received nearly $20B in emergency funding from Congress. The administration's 2021 budget ask is more than $240B, though we haven't seen any updates since before the pandemic began.
A peek at Wilkie's opening statement: He spends most of it praising VA staff for "fighting a war in America that none of us would have predicted."
But VA has said frontline staff don't need hazard pay. https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/veterans-affairs-says-medical-staff-dont-need-hazard-pay
But VA has said frontline staff don't need hazard pay. https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/veterans-affairs-says-medical-staff-dont-need-hazard-pay
VA denied for months staff reports of severe #PPE rationing and shortages while internal memos said otherwise.
VA officials called them "false allegations" and repeatedly assured lawmakers they had enough supplies.
Now, the Labor Dept is investigating. http://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/concern-over-va-medical-staff-masks-continues-as-vets-die
VA officials called them "false allegations" and repeatedly assured lawmakers they had enough supplies.
Now, the Labor Dept is investigating. http://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/concern-over-va-medical-staff-masks-continues-as-vets-die
Wilkie says "the news is not all grim" and says VA "took an aggressive posture to protect our patients" and staff has had "great success." Mentions the number who have recovered from the virus, says VA is "well-stocked" with supplies and well-staffed.
Infection rate is low among staff, Wilkie says, though some staff have told me that they have struggled to get tested, or been denied testing at VA.
Wilkie just arrived. For whatever it's worth, he's wearing a mask. Most folks here in the meeting room so far are.
Social distancing appropriations.
Some of the members will be attending the hearing remotely.
Wilkie has a chart of "the flow of hydroxychloroquine" he plans to provide lawmakers.
The department has been criticized for its use of the drug on #COVID19 patients, but VA says it has no plans to stop. https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/veterans-affairs-used-hydroxychloroquine-on-1300-patients
The department has been criticized for its use of the drug on #COVID19 patients, but VA says it has no plans to stop. https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/veterans-affairs-used-hydroxychloroquine-on-1300-patients
VA officials were unable to tell me how many of the 1,300 #COVID19 patients treated with the drug have recovered or how many have died. https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/wilkie-defends-va-use-of-hydroxychloroquine-on-veterans
. @RepDWStweets kicks off the hearing with a focus on VA's shortages of #PPE: "We expect VA to provide enough PPE to every single person working at a VHA facility and patients, when necessary."
Wilkie's opening statement says that VA has, on average, a minimum of 2 weeks of supplies such as gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns and hand sanitizer.
. @RepDWStweets says it "was unacceptable" that VA limited PPE only to frontline staff directly treating #COVID19 patients.
. @RepDWStweets says it's "astounding" that VA is "still insisting on providing" hydroxychloroquine to #COVID19 patients. So far, the drug has been unproven as a treatment for the virus, though VA has used it for other illnesses for years.
Full quote: "What is astounding to me is the VA is still insisting on providing this drug to veterans ... I hope that changes today," @RepDWStweets said.
Chairwoman @NitaLowey says VA's "lack of preparedness and mismanagement has led to needless death and suffering and much fear among veterans, their families and the healthcare professionals who care for them."
Rep. @NitaLowey says VA "should have stepped in sooner" to help state-managed veterans homes, which were hit particularly hard.
Rep. @NitaLowey: "The lack of urgency to address (PPE shortages) has likely contributed to additional sickness and death. I do hope we are all on the same page and we can work to fix this issue which is so outrageous."
"At a time when veterans most need VA to be ahead of the curve, it is falling behind. We need to understand what went wrong ... to avoid the shameful treatment of veterans in the future," Rep. @NitaLowey says.
As I mentioned earlier, Wilkie's opening statement mentions a low infection rate among VA staff.
A few things:
- Some staff have told me they've been denied testing.
- VA's press secretary said the stats include "all VHA employees" including those working from home.
A few things:
- Some staff have told me they've been denied testing.
- VA's press secretary said the stats include "all VHA employees" including those working from home.
VA officials have so far refused to provide the number of VA medical staff who have tested positive for the virus.
Yes, yes, yes Wilkie is wearing a mask during his testimony, but before we started the live stream he mentioned that he planned to remove it. I guess he changed his mind.
Wow. VA Chief Consultant to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health Jennifer MacDonald:
"Our workforce has had what they need throughout the entire response."
This is absolutely not what staff have said for months and not what VA's own internal memos have shown.
"Our workforce has had what they need throughout the entire response."
This is absolutely not what staff have said for months and not what VA's own internal memos have shown.
VA shared resources with cities, New Hampshire delivered VA supplies. So did South Korea. All to meet VA shortages.
VA internal memos showed staff reusing masks until they fell apart, storing them in paper bags, washing disposable masks.
VA internal memos showed staff reusing masks until they fell apart, storing them in paper bags, washing disposable masks.
31 VA staff members have died. Hundreds have tested positive.
Dozens of frontline staff have told me they were afraid and considered quitting over the lack of PPE. They said they feared infecting their families.
For months, VA denied those accounts. Apparently it still is.
Dozens of frontline staff have told me they were afraid and considered quitting over the lack of PPE. They said they feared infecting their families.
For months, VA denied those accounts. Apparently it still is.
On the headstones at 2 VA cemeteries featuring Nazi swastikas and inscriptions honoring Hitler, Wilkie says he thinks they should stay put and the cemeteries should educate visitors about them.
"The last thing we need to do is not remind Americans of the horrors of antisemitism and the horrors of the Nazi cult."
He says it would be a long process to remove the headstones from VA cemeteries.
Background: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/group-plans-lawsuit-against-va-over-swastika-headstones
He says it would be a long process to remove the headstones from VA cemeteries.
Background: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/group-plans-lawsuit-against-va-over-swastika-headstones
"We cannot erase the horror," Wilkie said.
. @RepDWStweets accuses Wilkie of "hiding behind" statute she says does not prevent him from amending or removing the headstones.
She says the swastika is prohibited even in Germany, but is displayed in American veterans' cemeteries.
Wilkie: "I will review everything."
She says the swastika is prohibited even in Germany, but is displayed in American veterans' cemeteries.
Wilkie: "I will review everything."
. @RepDWStweets: A review is not a commitment to begin the ... process" to remove or amend the headstones.
"I urge you to immediately ... begin the process to replace these headstones."
She says the issue will be dealt with "one way or another."
"I urge you to immediately ... begin the process to replace these headstones."
She says the issue will be dealt with "one way or another."
Wilkie says there may be a way to put the headstones for the Nazi POWs "in better context."
That's a pretty stark difference from VA's previous refusal to answer questions about the headstones.
That's a pretty stark difference from VA's previous refusal to answer questions about the headstones.
Wilkie: "My only concern ... is to make sure when we do this, we are still reminding people of that horror and why those soldiers fought and that we educate."
Note there he said "when." Not "if" and seemed to be referring to removing or amending those headstones.
Note there he said "when." Not "if" and seemed to be referring to removing or amending those headstones.
. @JudgeCarter asks why VA has allocated only about $2B of the nearly $20B Congress provided in emergency funds.
VA says it doesn't have "precedent to compare" whether that amount is low right now or not. Says some expenses have been less, some more.
Says VA would benefit maybe not from more money, but more flexibility for how it can spend that money.
Says VA would benefit maybe not from more money, but more flexibility for how it can spend that money.
That's from Jon Rychalski, assistant secretary for management and CFO for VA.
He says VA is "absolutely adequately funded at this time" but would benefit from more flexibility because there are some areas it's spending more than it expected, such as VBA overtime.
He says VA is "absolutely adequately funded at this time" but would benefit from more flexibility because there are some areas it's spending more than it expected, such as VBA overtime.
Now discussing telehealth, which Wilkie says is the "wave of the future, especially for mental health." Most VA appointments switched to online or phone during the pandemic. Vets have told me over and over they hope it continues to be an option.
. @JRutherfordFL says he's concerned about telemedicine in some cases, questioning how it can adequately replace physical exams.
VA admits it can't. Wilkie says telemedicine is useful for some appointments, especially mental health appointments.
VA admits it can't. Wilkie says telemedicine is useful for some appointments, especially mental health appointments.
Wilkie said VA has held more than 1.2 million telemedicine appointments during the pandemic so far, most for non-urgent needs.
Rep. @NitaLowey wants to know why VA used hydroxychloroquine for #COVID19 treatment on 1,300 patients.
Wilkie said Congress gave permission with the "right to try."
Said it was a choice of doing nothing or trying something.
Wilkie said Congress gave permission with the "right to try."
Said it was a choice of doing nothing or trying something.
