{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/iowa-senators-seek-answers-iowa-city-va-hiring-practices", "Iowa Senators Seek Answers on Iowa City VA Hiring Practices", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 4, 2017\u00a0The Honorable David Shulkin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secretary\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Washington DC 20420\u00a0Dear Secretary Shulkin: Veterans who receive care through the VA deserve the highest standard of care available. This high standard applies throughout an entire episode of care, but is most critical when a veteran sees their physicians. It should go without saying that physicians hired by the VA should be fit to practice and have a track record of providing quality care. However, a disturbing report in USA Today found that the VA has knowingly hired providers who have a history of providing substandard care. A neurosurgeon featured in the article had \u201ca dozen malpractice claims and settlements in two states\u201d and had his license revoked in one state, yet he was hired to work at the Iowa City VA this April. His hiring goes against Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1100.19 which states:\u201cApplicants\u2026who had such license, registration, or certification revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care by any of those States, or voluntarily relinquished a license, registration or certification in any of those States after being notified in writing by that State of potential termination for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment.\u201dAccording to the report, the neurosurgeon\u2019s licensure revocation and other malpractice claims were on his application. It is unacceptable that it was only as a result of USA Today\u2019s report that the VA determined that hiring this neurosurgeon was illegal. Accordingly please provide the following:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Please describe the \u201cincorrect\u201d guidance that was given to hospital officials in Iowa City that led to the hiring of the neurosurgeon. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On his application the neurosurgeon listed the previous malpractice suits and the revocation of his medical license. As part of his contract with the VA, was the neurosurgeon required to be monitored while providing care? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The VA is initiating an \u201cindependent, third-party clinical review\u201d of the care the neurosurgeon provided. Will the results of the third-party review be shared with the patients and their families?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What steps is the VA taking to determine how many providers at the Iowa City VA were hired illegally and what actions will the VA take if they determine that additional providers were hired illegally?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What discretion do VA hospital officials have in regard to hiring providers who have not had their licenses revoked but have had problems with their State Licensing boards?Thank you for your attention. Please respond by December 11, 2017.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/iowa-senators-seek-answers-iowa-city-va-hiring-practices"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.51609699241817, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}