Florida Congressmen: 'The Miami VA is in Desperate Need of Reform'

Two Republicans representing South Florida in Congress -- U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen -- met with leaders from the Miami VA Healthcare System on Monday. In recent weeks, the VA medical facilities have been under fire after reports of altered wait lists and other problems, including long wait times.

The reports that numerous Veterans Affairs clinics have cooked the books and systematically disregarded the health care needs of our veterans is a disgrace and a disservice to the great men and women who have served this country, Diaz-Balart said on Monday. We called this meeting today with the Miami VA to discuss the personal reports of veterans in South Florida and to see what is being done to correct these failures. It is imperative that the Miami VA quickly address the delays and incompetence that have plagued the hospital for years. I will do everything I can to make sure the VA is held accountable for their actions and that they work to fix these issues moving forward.

The Miami VA is in desperate need of reform, Ros-Lehtinen said. The tragic tales of negligence on the part of the VA staff and administration have caused many of us to question the processes and procedures used, in addition to what appears to be nonexistent discipline. No veteran or patient of any hospital or rehab facility should be faced with an indifferent staff or incompetent administration. Those who sacrificed so much for our nation should be treated with no less than the respect, dignity, and excellent medical care that they have earned and deserve.