After Outbreak that Caused 6 Deaths in Western PA, Senator Casey Secured IG Report, Pushed Legislation to Reform Procedures at VA Hospitals / Bipartisan Agreement Moves Important Reforms Closer to Passage This Year / Agreement Will Improve Reporting Procedures of Infectious Diseases at VA Hospitals, Bring VA Health Centers in Line with State Reporting Policies
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that a bipartisan agreement has been reached on legislation that will reform procedures at VA hospitals when infectious disease outbreaks occur. The original proposal, introduced by Senator Casey following 6 Legionnaires’ deaths, at the VA Pittsburgh Health System (VAPHS), spurred the bipartisan agreement on the Senate Veteran’s Committee. The agreement, called The Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013, will improve the way VA Hospitals report infectious disease outbreaks and bring VA health centers in line with state reporting procedures. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is the lead Republican sponsor of the bill.
“This bipartisan agreement puts these significant reforms on the door step of passage,” Senator Casey said. “No one piece of legislation can bring back a loved one or fully account for the pain that these families experienced in the last few years. What this legislation will do is take significant steps toward reforming VA policies so what occurred at the VA Pittsburgh Health System never happens again. There’s more work to do and I’ll continue to press the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure those who fought so hard for our country receive the care they deserve. I also want to thank Senator Burr for his work on this. He’s been a bipartisan leader on veterans issues and I’m pleased to be able to work with him on this effort.”
Infectious Disease Reporting:
- Since 2011, the VA Pittsburgh Health System has identified several cases of Legionnaires’ diseases among patients receiving medical services which resulted in patient death. Legionnaires’ disease, which most often presents as pneumonia, is caused when an individual inhales water containing the bacteria legionella.
- Currently, healthcare providers are required to report cases of Legionnaires’ disease to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in accordance with state and local laws.
- At the time of the legionella outbreak at the VA Pittsburgh Health Center, the VA had a voluntary policy regarding the reporting of legionella to the appropriate health agencies. On June 25, 2013, VA implemented a directive requiring the mandatory reporting of certain infectious diseases in accordance with state and local laws.
What the “Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013” accomplishes:
- Requires the Secretary to ensure that the Department has an up-to-date policy on reporting certain infectious disease diagnoses at a VA facility in accordance with the provisions of state and local laws.
- Requires the Secretary to develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and VA medical centers are complying with the policy and hold them accountable for the reporting of certain infectious diseases.
- Requires an independent review of the structure of VA medical centers and VISNs to ensure VA is effectively providing quality of care to our nation’s veterans
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