Suggests i got something wrong, but it is very important to do that. And i do if i get something wrong and i think my colleagues elsewhere at other media organizations do the same. Carl is up next. We will leave this discussion at this point to take you live now to hearing on efforts to curb drug abuse and theft by opioid addicted veterans. Veterans officials and representatives from an opioid Diversion Prevention Committee all testify. This is live coverage on cspan 3. Good afternoon. This hear willing come to order. I want to welcome everyone who has joined us today. Today we will address the lack of oversight in internal controls regarding controlled sub tanss within the Veterans Health administration that leave facilities open to Drug Diversion and veteran harm. The diversion of drugs from v. A. Health care facilities is an incredible Patient Safety issue that puts veterans, v. A. Employees and the public at tremendous risk. Unfortunately the news has recently been filled with the
Veterans Affairs Department officials and the mayo clinic testified on efforts to curb opioid abuse by patients and Veterans Affairs health care facilities. And to stop the theft and sale of drugs by employees of the va and prevention efforts. A House Committee held last weeks hearing. Good afternoon. This hearing will come to order. I want to welcome everyone who has joined us today. Today we will address the lack of oversight in internal controls regarding controlled substances within the Veterans Health administration that leave facilities open to Drug Diversion and veteran harm. The diversion of drugs from v. A. Health care facilities is an incredible Patient Safety issue that puts veterans, v. A. Employees and the public at tremendous risk. Unfortunately the news has recently been filled with the story after story of Drug Diversions within v. A. In little rock, arkansas, v. A. Pharmacy technician reportedly used his access to medical supplies, websites to order and divert 4,000 ox
It is critical. Your first 30 days on the ground, you are just trying to figure out where you are, how things are operating, where the threats are. We absolutely concur with that recommendation of taking steps to ensure that the personnel we put on the ground are there for longer periods of time. And has the department been able to achieve those requirements in its practice . Yes, it has. The fact is we dont actually have any temporary facilities at the moment. I request give you an example, though, when we just entered bengi, we have mobile security agents on the ground with u. S. Marines that are there. Those agents are going to stay for a much longer period of time. Probably up to 90 days until were sure we have the proper security that we can then start replacing them with permanent personnel were going to have on the ground. The 30day rotations as the arb pointed out were not conducive to the security operation. Are there any other incentives that the department can provide or thi
Our findings and conclusions in no way reflect the rights of a veteran, or his or her family, from filing a complaint under the federal tort claims act with va. Decisions regarding vas potential liability in these matters lies with the va, the department of justice, the judicial system, under the federal tort claims act. In december, 2013. While i have views on many aspects of what has come to be known as the scandal i would like to use this statement to comment on the downplaying and frankly inadequacy of the Inspector Generals Office that continues in the report issued august 26, 2014 that i fear is designed to minimize the scandal and protect its perpetrators rather than to provide the truth to the veterans and families that have been affected by it. All the employees receive training on their duty to report waste, fraud and abuse to the Inspector General whose job it is to investigate these allegations. I did this in february, 2011 that resulted in the indirect debate director plac