VA employees facing discipline

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Nearly a dozen employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Philadelphia could face discipline over their errant handling of a backlog of benefit claims after a 10-month internal probe prompted by a whistleblower.

The VA’s inspector general had found this spring that Philadelphia staff had neglected mail, altered claims dates and reviews and made $2.2 million in duplicate benefit payments as it tried to reduce backlogs.

Investigators found that more than 31,000 inquiries were delayed – for an average of 10 months – compared to the five-day agency standard.

The VA, which notified Congress of its findings Friday, said that eight employees have been informed of their proposed discipline while three others are expected to get similar notices.

The proposed discipline ranges from two-week suspensions to termination. The final decisions will be made after employees get time to respond to the findings.

At least two House lawmakers had called on the VA to fire those responsible.

“This practice seems to contradict VA core values of integrity,” the internal audit concluded, referring to the manipulation of data.

The VA’s inspector general has been investigating similar complaints at 12 of the nation’s 56 regional offices, and has substantiated complaint at Baltimore, Boston, Oakland, California, and other cities.

Still, Allison Hickey, the VA’s undersecretary for benefits, told a House Veterans Affairs committee this spring she did not see the records management problems as “systemic.” Addressing the Philadelphia office, she said that a top manager and an employee who altered quality reviews had been temporarily reassigned.

Calls for comment left with several veterans groups late Friday were not immediately returned.

However, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, a Republican from suburban Philadelphia, said he still wants more information about the disciplinary measures.

“While I am glad to hear that some disciplinary actions were taken, the VA has refused to keep Congress informed on their efforts to bring accountability to the Philadelphia VA Regional Office,” he said. “We need full disclosure as to what specific actions were taken to assure the VA’s disciplinary actions are proportional and appropriate.”