CIR: VA paid out $200 million in wrongful death settlements since 2001 [View all]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/04/04/3132958/cir-va-paid-out-200-million-in.html?sp=/99/296/331/354/

CIR: VA paid out $200 million in wrongful death settlements since 2001
By ADAM ASHTON
Staff writer
April 4, 2014

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The revelations come as the department faces intense scrutiny from members of Congress over the number of preventable deaths at VA facilities. The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has scheduled a hearing on preventable deaths for April 9.

In September, the committee held a hearing to examine patient deaths at VA hospitals in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas and Jackson, Miss.

At the hearing, lawmakers accused the agency of failing to discipline officials responsible for unnecessary deaths, pointing out that it has instead provided performance bonuses to these executives.

For example, after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the agency’s hospital in Pittsburgh left six veterans dead and at least 21 ill, the VA regional director, Michael Moreland, received a nearly $63,000 bonus.