New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced a new executive order Monday to permit VA physicians to treat patients at facilities outside the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Sununu’s announcement comes on the heels of a public relations disaster for the Manchester VA medical center, which recently suffered from a major pipe burst shortly after an article in the Boston Globe tore apart the facility for substandard conditions. In response to the Boston Globe’s report, the VA has removed several officials at the facility.
The new executive order allows physicians at VA facilities to practice at facilities outside the department’s system for about eight months.
“The state of New Hampshire is committed to delivering results for New Hampshire’s veterans,” Sununu stated, according to the Associated Press. “This executive order provides for a continuum of services for our veterans, and we will stop at nothing to deliver the best care. Period.”
The executive order will result in more care for veterans, which has proved a problem due to the recent pipe debacle, according to Manchester VA acting director Al Montoya. The issue caused major damage at the facility and led to the cancellation of 250 appointments
Sununu’s decision drew praise from the veterans’ advocacy organization Concerned Veterans for America (CVA).
“The health and safety of our veterans should always come first. We applaud Governor Sununu for lifting these burdensome regulatory barriers and allowing all hands on deck in the midst of this crisis,” CVA policy director Dan Caldwell said in a statement.
“We urge Secretary Shulkin to continue investigating the ongoing mismanagement at the Manchester VA. Regardless of the outcome, this entire situation underscores the need for expanded choice for our veterans,” Caldwell added. “If veterans cannot receive the care they need through their local VA, they should certainly have the ability to quickly access private sector care.”
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