Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and several of his colleagues have raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its transparency regarding a nurse practitioner who was removed from treating veterans at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida. The nurse practitioner was removed from seeing patients in June 2023 due to not meeting the VA's highest standards of care. However, the VA did not notify the relevant offices or initiate a clinical review until November of the same year.

Rubio and his colleagues, including Senator Rick Scott and U.S. Representatives Scott Franklin, Greg Steube, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, and Kathy Castor, have sent a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough expressing their concerns. The letter emphasizes the need for transparency and timely communication with veterans regarding their healthcare and calls for the VA to inform veterans about the situation and the steps being taken to rectify it.

The letter also raises concerns about the duration of the clinical review period and its potential impact on deceased patients. The nurse practitioner had been employed by the Tampa VA for 21 years, but the clinical review period only spans until October 2021. The lawmakers request a detailed accounting from the VA to determine if the overall health and wellbeing of veteran patients seen by this provider was impacted due to a lack of follow-up care.

The VA is currently in the process of reviewing approximately 3,000 urology patients previously seen by the provider. The lawmakers appreciate the VA's efforts to prioritize veterans' health and safety and acknowledge that the VA is working to notify veterans for follow-up medical appointments as necessary. However, they seek assurances from the VA that such oversight will never happen again and request answers to several specific questions regarding the timeline of events, the criteria for the clinical review, and the support provided to the Tampa VA for follow-up care.

Furthermore, the letter asks how the VA intends to prevent similar incidents in the future and how it plans to assess deceased patients to determine if poor urological care at the VA contributed to their deaths. The lawmakers also inquire about the expedited care that will be provided to the affected patients and the notification process for patients who do not require follow-up care. Additionally, they seek clarification on the status of the provider and the changes made to ensure timely and thorough tests and assessments by urologists at the Tampa VA.

The concerns raised by Rubio and his colleagues highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in providing healthcare to our nation's veterans. It is crucial that the VA addresses these concerns promptly and takes necessary steps to improve oversight and ensure high-quality care for veterans.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-colleagues-question-va-about-removed-provider-of-concern-2/