VA Candy Land

[Sensei]

It seems like this particular VA was doing a knock-up job keeping its waiting list lean by killing its patients.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wisconsin-va-dubbed-candy-land-probed-pain-pill-overkill-n306996

This is nothing new. Most experienced ER docs consider VA patients who present to a civilian facility with chronic pain to be high risk for substance abuse and addiction.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/veterans-dying-from-overmedication/

[Eurodriver]

The joys of single payer...

Coming to you circa 2016 Hillary.

[jpmuscle]

This is my shocked face :|

[Averageman]

In the Late 70's I remember the large amount of prescription drugs my Dad would get from the VA. Even as a teenager I knew it was out of control to see several hundred Darvon and Valium in jars in the medicine cabinet.
I think it's easier to over prescribe than to actually deal with the issues the guys have.
He passed away before he made it to 50 from a massive heart attack, I'm sure the booze and pill combination were a factor.

[Irish]

Now there's a huge problem with the pendulum swinging the opposite direction. Cutting off vets and making them go cold turkey, without any warnings or help, and then expecting positive results. It's a very unfortunate situation.

[Eurodriver]

Nevermind.

Averageman, that situation has not changed.

[Sensei]

This story just keeps on giving. It seems that a US Senator from WI was aware of a critical inspection complaint and whistleblower but did nothing...for months. You have one guess as to her party affiliation.

http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/25/baldwin-breaks-silence-says-reviewing-tomah-response/24017965/

I mean, why would you want to do anything about your constituents dying when it is likely that the victims are voting for your opposition?

[Irish]

And then the Oakland VA just got busted discarding 14,000 claims. (http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_27561325/investigation-oakland-va-office-lost-thousands-veteran-claims) Not to worry, swear your oath here, your country will take care of you.

The Oakland office of Veterans Affairs improperly filed and then lost about 14,000 unprocessed veterans benefit claims, some dating back to the 1990s, according to a federal government investigation released Wednesday.

No one will ever know the fate of those 14,000 informal applications for benefits found in a filing cabinet in 2012 because after they were discovered by a VA management support team, they disappeared, according to a report by the federal Office of Inspector General, which investigated problems at the office last summer.