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Our nation has a responsibility to provide the highest levels of care for those who have served our nation. Those hired to treat and care for our veterans should have a proven record of providing quality health care. That is why, last week, I reintroduced the Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act.

This bill would require the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to have a patient’s records reviewed by an independent, non-government medical provider if it is determined that the patient received care from a provider within the VHA system whose license had been previously revoked for cause.

This entire dilemma originated with a USA Today story that found out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) knowingly hired providers whose licenses had been revoked or who had been accused of misconduct.

While the VA is taking corrective action, this bill goes one step further by ensuring that every healthcare provider that was hired by the VA with a revoked license undergoes a third-party clinical review of that provider’s care.  If the review determines that a competent practitioner would manage the veteran’s care differently, the veteran will be notified.  

This is a common-sense, low-hanging fruit issue that must be fixed to continue taking steps in the right direction of ensuring that those who have given everything to our country in service get the care that they undoubtedly deserve.