Buying medications outside of contracts was just an effort to help veterans

VA: Buying medications outside of contracts was just an effort to help veterans

By Steve Vogel, Published: February 1

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ purchase of $1.2 billion in pharmaceuticals since 2004 in violation of federal law and regulations was the result of “a team failure” at the department, VA Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould told the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Gould and a panel of other VA officials testified that the actions did not represent criminal wrongdoing or fraud. Instead, they described the violations as misguided efforts to ensure that veterans could get drugs unavailable through the normal contracting process.

“It broke down to such an extent that the wrong way became the ‘way we’ve always done it,’ ” Gould testified.

Committee members excoriated the department for its conduct and vowed to continue investigating the matter.

“What VA has been doing is not mere bureaucratic oversight,” said Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of the committee. “It is illegal, with serious potential ramifications for veterans.”
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