Abe Hamadeh Urges VA Secretary Doug Collins to Reform Community Care Program After Audit Reveals Shortcomings

Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) joined Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) in demanding that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins implement reforms to the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) after an Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit revealed shortcomings.

The Context

In June, the OIG performed an audit on the VCCP that revealed the VA overspent $1.7 billion on the program, spending $40 million per quarter on inaccurate community care eligibility determinations.

Essentially, this means the VA spent more money sending veterans to outside healthcare providers when VA facilities could provide the same services.

Additionally, a quarter of the 1.4 million veterans recommended to community care providers did not meet eligibility requirements, and 38% of 4.8 million veterans who received care from VA facilities lacked documentary evidence of receiving community care recommendations.

Hamadeh's Response

"The findings of the audit show that not only are we wasting money, but we are depriving our veterans of the care they so rightfully deserve," said Rep. Hamadeh in his press release, adding, "I have faith that the administration will take the appropriate action to ensure that the recommendations are implemented and quality care is delivered when needed by our veterans."

Previous Work for Veterans

Support for veterans has been a central pillar of Rep. Hamadeh's time in office, with his Veteran Readiness & Employment Transparency Act passing the House early in February.

That bill improves the existing Veteran Readiness & Employment program by creating a new hotline system and requiring each regional office to hold Q&A sessions at every school under its jurisdiction, a response to excessively long wait times reported by veterans.

In May, the Arizona congressman introduced the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act, which would formally expand the VET TEC program, which funds technology training for veterans outside of the traditional GI Bill, to include artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor manufacturing training.

Later in May, Hamadeh introduced the Military and Veterans Fuel Discount Act, which allows the Secretary of War to apply a discount on the 18.4 cents-per-gallon gas tax and additional discounts to counteract state and local gas taxes.

Finally, the Veterans and Servicemembers PTSD Emerging Treatment Review Act introduced in July requires the Pentagon to compile a report to Congress on emerging clinical research into PTSD and new clinical treatments.