Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Whistleblower Reports Mental-Health Drug Substitutions At W.Va. Facility
A Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Virginia put patients at risk by substituting prescribed mental-health medications with older drugs to cut costs, according to a federal investigation. The practice, exposed by an agency whistleblower, violated VA policy and created a 鈥渟ubstantial and specific danger to public health and safety,鈥 the department鈥檚 Office of Medical Inspector found. (Hicks, 4/23)
Veterans Affairs whistleblowers from two VA regional offices 鈥 Philadelphia and Oakland 鈥 told a U.S. House committee hearing that management at their benefits claims office 鈥渃reated a hostile work environment鈥 that has left employees 鈥渧ery demoralized,鈥 and they endured psychological abuse after they reported failures to process thousands of claims. (Wax-Thibodeaux, 4/22)