Congressman Biggs Outlines His Criteria for New Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this month, Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) Director RimaAnn Nelson was reassigned to a new location, and the search for her replacement is ongoing. To facilitate the search, Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilke outlining what he hopes to see in a new Director.
Congressman Biggs' top criteria include: encouraging an open and transparent dialogue with Congressional staff, providing a specific plan to improve the system's End of Year Hospital Star Rating, and implementing a rigorous job performance review for all its employees.
Read the text of the letter below:
October 25, 2019
The Honorable Robert Wilkie
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington D.C., 20420
Dear Secretary Wilkie,
Thank you for your service to our nation's veterans, especially my constituents in Arizona. While I am encouraged by the progress that the Trump Administration has made to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) there is still much progress to be made in the State of Arizona.
I recently learned that Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) Director RimaAnn Nelson is being reassigned to a new location and that the VA is actively seeking her replacement.
Our office looks forward to continuing a close relationship with leadership at PVAHCS to ensure my constituents receive timely access to the care they need. As you interview candidates for the Director position, it is imperative that you seek someone with a strong and successful leadership record. This candidate must exhibit an aptitude for innovative ideas that can leverage all available resources to help Arizona veterans receive the care they earned through selfless service to this country. Specifically, I have three priorities that I hope are the focus of the new Director's time and resources.
First, the new PVAHCS Director must encourage an open and transparent dialogue with Congressional staff as they work together to aid Arizona veterans. I am encouraged that progress has been made to build a sustainable working relationship with leadership at the PVAHCS and the Southeast VA Health Care Clinic located in my district and within the larger system. Congressional staff are currently permitted regular office space at the Clinic and we request that the new Director grow and expand our partnership by providing more office hours and a dedicated space at the Clinic and expand access for all Congressional staff to the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, a place where constituents from across the state receive care. This office space further helps us expedite our constituent's casework and enhance oversight and accountability over their care. This is a small, yet necessary, step in the right direction to help our veterans receive the care that they deserve.
Second, the PVAHCS has received a one-star End of Year Hospital Star Rating every year since 2016. This is unacceptable. The PVAHCS has been under scrutiny from Congress, government watchdogs, veteran advocates, and the media since the 2014 wait list scandal broke. We must bring real change to the PVAHCS. Once a new Director is in place, I would appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from them on his or her specific plan to improve this abysmal rating. I stand ready to assist in legislating to improve the system's annual rating and provide the appropriate resources to meet these challenges.
Third, for the PVAHCS to be successful, there must be accountability. President Trump, along with Congress, has given the VA the authority to fire or demote employees who are not doing their job. There should not be any tolerance for negligent employees conducting the delicate health care of our veterans. I expect the new PVAHCS Director to implement a rigorous job performance review for all its employees.
I look forward to working with the new PVAHCS Director and I appreciate your efforts to find a stellar replacement for Director Nelson that can make Arizona proud.
Sincerely,
Andy Biggs
Member of Congress