Congressman Crow Demands Information from VA Following Reports of Substandard Care at Rocky Mountain Regional VA

AURORA — Today, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), veteran, sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address concerning reports about the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (RMVA) regarding staffing shortages, staff morale, and the RMVA prosthetics department that could be resulting in substandard care for veterans. 

In the letter, Congressman Crow requested a comprehensive review of past canceled prosthetics orders, including who is responsible, steps to prevent future misconduct, the timeline for hiring permanent VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHS) leadership, and strategies to improve resource allocation and staffing towards providing the quality care veterans are promised.Congressman Crow’s office also remains available to assist any individual veteran who is impacted. 

“As you know, RMVA resides in my district. I remain committed to ensuring not only the veterans in our community, but those who travel to this facility, receive the care they deserve,” said Congressman Crow in the letter. “There is a sacred promise in America that if you step up to serve, the nation will be there for you when you take off the uniform.”

“It is my understanding there are a number of ongoing reviews/investigations as a result of troubling information that has come to light regarding staffing shortages, staff morale, and the RMVA prosthetics department,” continued Congressman Crow. “As these reviews/investigations progress and conclude, we expect a transparent account of the current state of RMVA and any remedial action taken in response.” 

Congressman Crow continues to be a strong advocate for veterans' rights in Colorado and across the US. Crow has worked to expand access to the quality health care veterans and their families have earned, including working on a bipartisan basis to create the easy to remember 9-8-8 Veterans Crisis Line, helping pass into law the PACT Act – the largest expansion of veterans health benefits in US history, and recently reintroducing the bipartisan Veterans Sentinel Act to improve the VA’s response to veterans’ suicide. 

Colorado’s 6th District is home to more than 35,000 veterans. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with text appearing below:                              

Dr. Shereef Elnahal 

Under Secretary of Health 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

810 Vermont Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20420 

Dear Under Secretary Elnahal,

I appreciate your proactive outreach regarding the current state of Rocky Mountain Regional VA (RMVA) and our continued discussions about the concerns both VA has flagged for me and those relayed by staff and local veterans. I appreciate your commitment to an open dialogue and your willingness to ensure a transparent accounting of all issues uncovered during these investigations. 

As you know, RMVA resides in my district. I remain committed to ensuring not only the veterans in our community, but those who travel to this facility, receive the care they deserve. There is a sacred promise in America that if you step up to serve, the nation will be there for you when you take off the uniform.

It is my understanding there are a number of ongoing reviews/investigations as a result of troubling information that has come to light regarding staffing shortages, staff morale, and the RMVA prosthetics department. As these reviews/investigations progress and conclude, we expect a transparent account of the current state of RMVA and any remedial action taken in response. I appreciate the steps taken so far, and the changes made, to hold parties responsible.

Based on the conversations we have had thus far, below are inquiries I have of you:

1. Please outline all ongoing reviews/investigations and reviews related to RMVA, as well as who is conducting these investigations, the timeline for completion, and what remedial action is being taken based on the findings.

2. When do you anticipate making permanent leadership changes at RMVA?

3. What additional staffing changes do you anticipate making?

4. What resources, if any, do you anticipate sending to RMVA?

5. During these investigations, have you identified and addressed instances where veterans had their cases closed and orders deleted when seeking the care they needed through the prosthetics department?

   • How many orders were deleted?

   • How long has this been going on within the prosthetics department at RMVA?

6. What is being done to ensure the veterans with improperly closed cases or deleted orders receive the care they need?

Thank you for your communication with us and commitment to ensuring our veterans get the care they deserve. I anticipate seeing issues uncovered throughout these investigations addressed swiftly. If there is any information you are unable to provide at this time, please follow up as soon as that information is made available. I look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,