Veterans are still facing “unacceptable” delays as they try to receive healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Friday.
“These are people who have served our nation and deserve the best care that they can get,” Spicer said. “There are still wait times that are unacceptable.”
The VA was rocked in 2014 by the worst scandal in its history when whistleblowers stepped forward and exposed a nationwide scheme to cover up long delays in healthcare, by creating fake patient waiting lists. Nearly three years later, veterans still face lengthy wait times at some VA hospitals.
Spicer said Trump has spent time talking to healthcare and industry experts to find ways to improve medical care and lending at the VA.
However, he noted the delay in confirming Trump’s selection to lead the VA, David Shulkin, have slowed the reform process.
“The number one thing is to get Dr. Shulkin confirmed,” Spicer said. “It’s hard to talk about how we’re going to enact an agenda of reform when Senate Democrats continue to slow walk some of these folks.”
