By MATTHEW DALY <\/p>\n
The Associated Press <\/p>\n
Published: May 24, 2014 <\/p>\n
WASHINGTON More veterans are being allowed to obtain health care at private hospitals and clinics in an effort to improve their treatment following allegations of falsified records and delays in treatment. <\/p>\n
In a statement issued Saturday, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki also said VA facilities are enhancing capacity of their clinics so veterans can get care sooner. In cases where officials cannot expand capacity at VA centers, the Department of Veterans Affairs is \"increasing the care we acquire in the community through non-VA care,\" Shinseki said. <\/p>\n
Lawmakers from both parties have pressed for this policy change as the VA confronts allegations about treatment delays and falsified records at VA centers nationwide. <\/p>\n
The department's inspector general says 26 VA facilities are under investigation, including the Phoenix VA hospital, where a former clinic director says as many as 40 veterans may have died will awaiting treatment. <\/p>\n
Officials also are investigating claims that VA employees have falsified appointment records to cover up delays in care. An initial review of 17 people who died while awaiting appointments in Phoenix found that none of their deaths appeared to have been caused by delays in treatment. <\/p>\n
The allegations have raised fresh concerns about the administration's management of a department that has been struggling to keep up with the influx of veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Vietnam veterans needing more care as they age. <\/p>\n
The directive announced Saturday should make it easier for veterans to get medical care at non-VA facilities, according to an agency spokeswoman. <\/p>\n
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VA OKs more private health care for veterans<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By MATTHEW DALY The Associated Press Published: May 24, 2014 WASHINGTON More veterans are being allowed to obtain health care at private hospitals and clinics in an effort to improve their treatment following allegations of falsified records and delays in treatment. In a statement issued Saturday, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki also said VA facilities are enhancing capacity of their clinics so veterans can get care sooner. In cases where officials cannot expand capacity at VA centers, the Department of Veterans Affairs is \"increasing the care we acquire in the community through non-VA care,\" Shinseki said. Continue reading