State sets up hotline for VA complaints
The North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs on Monday established a "Vet Tip Hotline" where veterans and federal employees can confidentially report alleged misconduct at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
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The federal agency has been under fire in recent weeks after lengthy wait times at its hospitals and clinics, which were sometimes hidden in official records, resulted in the deaths of some veterans. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki resigned Friday.
“Hundreds of thousands of veterans have received care from dedicated USVA employees at medical facilities in North Carolina,” state Division of Veterans Affairs Director Ilario Pantano said in a statement. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to care for our North Carolina veterans, and as their advocate, I want to help the USVA get back on track.”
The hotline was set up after the state agency received specific allegations of misconduct at VA medical facilities in North Carolina, officials said, declining to elaborate. After conducting interviews, the allegations were found credible and referred to the appropriate VA authorities, officials said.
“Our goal with the Vet Tip Hotline is to be constructive, systematic and transparent,” Pantano said. “We are not looking for scapegoats but rather solutions to get our veterans the care they deserve."
Calls to the hotline can be made toll-free at 844-624-8387, or people can email VetTips@doa.nc.gov.
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