Extremely disturbing reports continued this week about the inadequate health care our veterans have received from many VA facilities across the country. On Tuesday, we learned that the head of Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical Center was fired following the death of two patients in their 20s who previously sought treatment at the hospital’s emergency room(for some reason your link disappeared when I made the edit—I’m sorry!). We cannot allow for the mistreatment of our veterans to continue, and I will work with my colleagues in the House to ensure that we hold those leaders accountable and do what is necessary to strengthen and improve medical care for our military.
On Wednesday, I wrote a letter to Secretary of the VA, Eric Shinseki, expressing my concern about the sub-par care veterans are receiving through the VA–including here in North Carolina in Fayetteville and Durham. I requested an account of the actions being taken by the VA to address the severe problems at these facilities. On Friday, Secretary Shinseki announced his resignation. Unfortunately, the problems facing our veterans and their healthcare remain,so I will continue to fight to keep the promises madeto our veterans. More information about the situation at Womack and the Shinseki resignation can be found below. Also, if you would like to learn more about the work I am doing on behalf of veterans, visit ellmers.house.gov/veterans.
Obamacare was also in the news this week, with new polls showing Americans’ dissatisfaction with the health care law — many saying Obamacare will delay their ability to retire due to higher costs. Sixty-six percent of workers say they won’t be able to adjust to the large costs associated with serious illness or injury due to Obamacare regulations, and 59 percent of employers say they intend to increase their employees’ share of health care premiums. As Republicans unfortunately predicted, the problems with Obamacare will only continue to unfold over time.
Fort Bragg Hospital Scandal
I released the following statement this week regarding the announced firing of Col. Steven Brewster and suspensions of three top deputies at Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical Center:
“The recent problems affecting the healthcare of our nation’s military struck home last night at Fort Bragg. While the details continue to unfold, the initial reports of substandard care and the neglect of our country’s warriors and veterans should shock and outrage not only the Fort Bragg community, but the nation as a whole.”
“While I appreciate the decision by the Department of Defense to act decisively following their review of glaring problems at Womack Army Medical Center, there remain many serious problems. Over the past month we have uncovered numerous reports of a nationwide failure in regards to the health care and support of our veterans and the men and women who fight for our country. This is shameful and must be addressed immediately. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to ensure we hold those leaders accountable and do what is necessary to strengthen and improve medical care for our military, our veterans and their families.”
The shake-up at the hospital, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., came at a moment of heightened sensitivity about health care in the military community, stirred by the furor over treatment delays in the separate medical system serving the nation’s veterans. Late Tuesday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a broad review to ensure that military patients — many of them active-duty service members and their families — are not facing similar problems.
Pentagon data shows that Womack, which performs more than 14,000 inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures a year, had a higher-than-expected rate of surgical complications from January 2010 to July 2013, the latest data available. In March, the hospital suspended all elective surgery for two days after inspectors from the Joint Commission found fault with surgical infection control procedures.
Protecting America’s Veterans
The following is an excerpt from the letter I wrote to Secretary Shinseki expressing concern with the sub-par care veterans continue to receive through the VA in Fayetteville and Durham, North Carolina, and requesting an account of the actions being taken by the VA to address the severe problems at these facilities:
The veterans served by the Fayetteville, N.C. and Durham, N.C. VA facilities in my district face the same grim fate as many others waiting for care. VA medical facilities should be a place where veterans can turn in a time of need, but instead many veterans seek their local VA as a last resort. The veterans whom my office assists in navigating these roadblocks to care often report feeling hopeless and forgotten. This is especially true as we lose appoximately eighteen of these heroes a day to suicide. Even worse, Mr. Secretary, these veterans will not report mistreatment for fear of retaliation from the very people that are supposed to be helping them in their time of need.
Untimely appointments and inaccuracies in scheduling have stripped veterans of the healthcare and benefits they deserve, resulting in death before some can even receive treatment. Mr. Secretary, it is clear now that pumping money into the VA’s budget is not the answer — and neither is mandatory overtime for VA employees. The problem has become obvious: top-down management of the VA needs to be overhauled. No veteran should have to suffer in the hands of the VA, and I eagerly await answers as to what you and the Department are doing to address this very serious situation. I also request an account of the actions currently being taken to remedy the severe problems occurring at both the Fayetteville and Durham facilities.
Click here to read letter in its entirety.
My Statement on the Shinseki Resignation
I released the following statement on Friday following the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki:
“The management of our veterans’ healthcare is not only a sacred trust, but a moral responsibility to the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. The reports of gross mismanagement, neglect and utter incompetence at VA centers across the country is shameful and requires full accountability. While I respect the decision by Secretary Shinseki to resign amid these new revelations, the disasters facing our veterans and their healthcare remains and it must be improved immediately.”
“For far too long, our veterans have been neglected and left to navigate the confusing and misguided bureaucracies within the VA system on their own. These are deep and pervasive problems that will not be solved by replacing a few leaders at the top – it will require a thorough review of how our government provides healthcare to our veterans and how officials can be pushed to promote excellence, accountability, innovation and efficiency. I will continue to fight on behalf of our veterans and work with our local VA hospitals to ensure these changes are being made. Those who sacrificed everything for our republic deserve the quality and competent care they earned.”
Manufacturing Jobs Coming to NC
Reynolds American announced it will be adding 200 jobs at its Tobaccoville Manufacturing Center in Forsyth County. Most of the jobs will be in manufacturing, and there are plans in place to begin hiring in the coming weeks. Jobs will be added throughout the next four years with average salaries at approximately $40,000 a year. I released the following statement last week upon hearing this news:
“I was ecstatic to learn of RAI’s announcement regarding the creation of over 200 full-time manufacturing jobs right here in North Carolina. The development of the VUSE digital vapor cigarette has been a monumental leap forward in the effort to reduce the harm associated with tobacco products. I applaud their efforts in encouraging smokers’ migration to what may be less harmful products.
As a Member of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health which has oversight jurisdiction on tobacco-related issues, I will continue to fight for practical science-based regulations from the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. I will ensure that any action they take will not stifle innovation of reduced-risk products or squash the on-going creation of quality, well-paying manufacturing jobs.”
Hurricane Season Begins Today
Today is the first day of hurricane season. You can find information about hurricane preparedness on FEMA’s Ready.gov website and at ellmers.house.gov. The 2014 Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30, so please take the time now to ensure that you and your family are prepared.
Snapshots from the Week
Here are a few photos from my tour of the “Memorial Hermann Life Flight and Memorial Hermann Texas Med Center” with Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX). Also pictured is the Hospital CEO Craig Cordola.
In the News
Ellmers says military healthcare failings ‘shameful’
The Hill
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) on Wednesday welcomed news of the Pentagon’s review of the military healthcare system but warned “many serious problems” remain. “Over the past month we have uncovered numerous reports of a nationwide failure in regards to the healthcare and support of veterans and the men and women who fight for our country,” Ellmers said in a statement. “This is shameful and must be addressed immediately.” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the 90-day examination after the Army removed the commander and three top deputies at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C, following reports that two patients unexpectedly died in the past two weeks. The base is partially located in Ellmers’s district.
Womack Army Medical Center commander removed following two patient deaths
Fayetteville Observer
Following the news of the Womack shakeup, Fort Bragg’s elected officials voiced their concern for the situation. Rep. Renee Ellmers, a 2nd District Republican, said the removal of Womack’s commander was a sign of bigger issues in military health care, both for current troops and veterans. In a release, Ellmers referenced the news at Womack and the ongoing scandal in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system. “While the details continue to unfold, the initial reports of substandard care and the neglect of our country’s warriors and veterans should shock and outrage not only the Fort Bragg community, but the nation as a whole,” Ellmers said.
Lawmakers question military health care after removal of Womack commander
Stars & Stripes
A shakeup at Fort Bragg’s hospital has elected officials concerned and asking questions. U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, a Republican, said the removal of Womack Army Medical Center’s commander was a sign of bigger issues in military health care, both for current troops and veterans. In a release, Ellmers referenced the news at Womack and the ongoing scandal in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system. shock and outrage not only the Fort Bragg community, but the nation as a whole.”
Officials: NC Army hospital chief relieved of command
Associated Press
Two defense officials say the chief of an Army medical center has been relieved of his command because of problems with patient care. Congresswoman Renee Ellmers said the “serious problems” remain. “The recent problems affecting the healthcare of our nation’s military struck home last night at Fort Bragg. While the details continue to unfold, the initial reports of substandard care and the neglect of our country’s warriors and veterans should shock and outrage not only the Fort Bragg community, but the nation as a whole,” Ellmers said in a statement.
NDAA includes amendment requiring advance notice of TRICARE changes
The Ripon Advance
The House of Representatives recently approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included an amendment authored by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) requiring advance notice of health policy changes for service members. Ellmers originally introduced the Timely Information Management Enforcement (TIME) Act in February to ensure that service members who receive health insurance through TRICARE are made aware of policy changes before they occur. The measure was then incorporated as an amendment into the NDAA, which would authorize military funding for fiscal year 2015.