Bennet: VA Audit Underscores Urgency for Major Fixes at VA

Following the release of the results of an internal audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet continued to press for changes to correct the systemic issues within the VA to ensure veterans receive the care and services they’ve earned in a timely manner.

“We cannot relent in pressing the agency to correct these problems,” Bennet said.  “The VA must do better, and soon.  It needs to be more responsive, more transparent and more efficient.  And it needs to improve its process for building new facilities – like the one in Aurora.  Our veterans have earned that.

“We’ll continue to review the results of this and upcoming reports and will push for major fixes legislatively and administratively.”

The VA released the results of its Nationwide Access Audit along with Colorado and facility level patient access data, medical center quality and efficiency data, and mental health provider survey data, for all Veterans health facilities.

Since news of systemic problems within the Veterans Health Administration was brought to light, Bennet has urged VA leadership to quickly assess the problems and make the necessary changes to address them. Last month, he joined members of the Colorado delegation in requesting the administration to provide results of the VA’s internal audit relating to Colorado facilities.  He also requested that the VA Inspector General include all facilities that serve veterans in Colorado in its ongoing investigation.  He also worked with a bipartisan group of senators to urge the administration to accept assistance from technology companies to help fix the broken VA scheduling system.