Report: Doctors Don't Treat Vets Due to Lag in Pay

A federal review has determined some South Texas physicians stopped accepting veterans as patients because a Veterans Affairs center was not reimbursing the doctors in a timely manner.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel in a report released Monday also found the VA center in Harlingen did not comply with rules for credentials and privileges granted to doctors who treated veterans.

The report from Carolyn Lerner, head of the Office of Special Counsel, and addressed to President Barack Obama also notes failings at VA centers elsewhere.

The agency confirmed allegations a whistleblower made about the Harlingen facility. But the report says the VA determined the problems were not a "substantial" threat to public health and safety.

The Harlingen VA office did not immediately provide comment on the findings.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us