New bill would increase VA oversight

New Congressional legislation introduced by a local representative aims to better oversee Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The Veterans’ Health and Radiation Safety Act, announced by Rep. John Adler (D-N.J.) on Veterans Day, would potentially prevent the issues that recently surfaced at the Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center.

This summer, it was discovered that 98 patients received incorrect radioactive seed treatments for prostate cancer from 2002-2008 at the VA Medical Center.

The Center received citations for eight rule violations in connection with these treatments, a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review said last week.

Penn Medicine radiation oncologist Gary Kao, the physician who incorrectly performed a majority of the brachytherapy treatments, was working on a contract at the VA Medical Center.

“We must fix the failures that happened in Philadelphia,” Adler said in a press release. “Congress has a moral responsibility to take care of our veterans.”

Adler’s bill aims to increase the transparency and accountability at Veterans Affairs hospitals, the release said.

The bill stipulates that all VA medical programs that treat fewer than 100 patients submit an annual report to Congress to ensure they operate within safety standards.

Under the bill, VA employees and independently contracted workers in medical centers would be trained in what constitutes a reportable “medical event.”

Also, the performance of independent workers at VA medical centers would have to be evaluated before their contracts are renewed.

All of these were cited as concerns in Congressional hearings held over the summer after the Philadelphia VA Medical Center incident became public.

A spokesman from the Medical Center declined to comment.

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