Outrage over VA must prompt reforms

Few institutions have such noble origins as the Department of Veterans Affairs, which can trace its mission to Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. On March 4, 1865, the careworn leader affirmed that among the nation's highest moral obligations were "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.''

Those words have adorned the VA's Washington, D.C., headquarters for more than 50 years. But an appalling new report released this week suggests that Lincoln's message was lost on far too many of those who run the VA's hospitals and clinics.

The interim report from the VA's Office of Inspector General, focused on the Phoenix veterans health care system, found that wait times for primary-care appointments were longer than initial reports suggested, with 1,700 veterans not even on the official waitlist.

Even more alarming, the report suggests that inappropriate scheduling, which can lead to delayed care, may be a "systemic'' deficiency.

The inspector general has dispatched "rapid response" teams to determine the depth of the problems nationwide, including whether veterans have died because they were kept waiting. Investigators also are working with the U.S. Department of Justice to determine if there's sufficient evidence to hold the "VA or specific individuals accountable on the basis of criminal, civil or administrative law and regulations." A chief concern is that wait times might have been covered up so that staff qualified for advancement or bonuses.

The full-throated outrage sparked by this report is merited, though it's worth noting that initial data provided by Minnesota's regional VA system suggests that it's run much more responsibly. Still, deeper investigation is needed here and elsewhere. The Phoenix mismanagement is a national disgrace. Scrutiny is needed to ensure that the agency and those it serves have not been betrayed elsewhere at such a crucial time.

The VA is rapidly trying to retool for younger generations of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to body armor and advanced medical care, many survived serious wounds that would have killed soldiers in the past. Their care challenges — disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and mental health needs that are taken more seriously than in previous eras — are distinct from the World War II generation's age-related conditions that the agency is accustomed to.

The political outrage also needs to yield meaningful action. The bipartisan blasting of alleged VA mismanagement ought to have Congress uniting around a bill that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is reviving. The legislation would expand benefits and add up to 27 new VA health care facilities to help address the care backlog. Despite backing by just about every veterans' advocacy group, the landmark bill was blocked in February by Senate Republicans for being too costly.

With the spotlight on the VA, this also is a time to ask broader questions about its future. One that ought to get a high-profile airing was asked during 1990s health reform efforts. Should the VA remain a separate system or should it morph into a system like Medicare, which covers care for seniors but relies on private-sector providers and hospitals?