Wisconsin’s Congressional Republicans Seek Answers From VA Regarding Clinic Waiting Times

Delegation Sends Acting Secretary Letter Asking About Misinformation

By
Rep. Sean Duffy says he's deeply angered by the wrong waiting times that had been publicized by the VA. Photo: House GOP (CC-BY-NC).

Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation have sent a letter to the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying the VA has been wrong, and was perhaps lying, about appointment waiting times for veterans in Wisconsin.

The delegation contends that the VA says the Tomah facility waiting time is eight days, but it’s really 17 for new patients. The Milwaukee VA reported 11 days wait while an audit shows it takes 23 days. The Madison Middleton hospital’s wait time was reported at 29 days, but veterans are waiting an average of 50 days.

Last week, the Republican delegation sent a letter to the acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson demanding answers. U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Weston) said they’re trying to put the heat on to get answers “as to why we were given misinformation, why they were putting a rosier spin on their numbers then the truth presented, and what system do they have in place to provide misinformation.”

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Duffy says the VA has possibly created an organizational structure to provide misinformation.

Duffy’s Democratic challenger Kelly Westlund is from a military family. She blames Republican budgets for the crisis.

“It’s frustrating to me to see people in Congress who have not been good advocates to making sure the VA is properly funded, now using this opportunity to score political points,” said Westlund. “You can’t just be an ally for veterans when it’s politically convenient.”

Westlund has been touring VA facilities in the northern half of Wisconsin. She does agree that more doctors, nurses and staff are needed in all clinics.