The VA also suspended the duties of Barbara Temeck, acting chief of staff at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, where concerns were first raised that led to the investigations by the VA Office of Medical Inspector and Office of Acountability.
“Once again an official that has allegedly violated basic medical standards has retired without facing the consequences for accountability at the VA,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, in a statement. “There is clearly a lack of accountability that continues to block quality of care to our veterans.”
The agency quickly launched the internal probes after an investigation by the Cincinnati TV station WCPO gathered possible evidence that Temeck was prescribing medication to Hetrick’s wife without a proper license. WCPO also spoke to dozens of employees who claimed that cost-cutting measures hurt quality of care for veterans at the Cincinnati VA, and raised questions about Temeck’s pay.
The VA said in a release that the review was conducted Feb. 9-11 and did not substantiate impropriety related to quality of care. But it did find misconduct in Temeck providing “prescriptions and other medical care to members of Hetrick’s family.”
A criminal investigation may follow.
Hetrick was suspended from oversight of the Cincinnati VA during the probe, but remained in charge of VA centers in Dayton and across the Midwest. Temeck remains employed at the Cincinnati VA, but is relegated to non-patient-care duties while VA officials consider further action.
U.S. Rep Brad Wenstrup, R-Cincinnati, said the quick ouster of Hetrick couldn’t have happened without reforms passed in 2014 making it easier for the VA to dismiss senior executives. That came in the wake of a national scandal over timeliness and quality of care at VA medical centers.
“Veterans are thankful that the Department of Veterans Affairs acted to dismiss a leader who has lost the trust of those he serves,” said Wenstrup, who sits on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
“The accountability cannot end here,” he added, calling for the Senate to pass a House-passed bill giving the VA more power in disciplining or firing VA employees.
Democrats oppose the measure, arguing it would hurt working conditions for VA employees and make it harder to recruit and retain the best workers.
VISN 10, which Hetrick oversaw until Thursday, has an annual budget of $4 billion and serves more than 500,000 veterans across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and northern Kentucky. It includes 11 medical centers and 58 outpatient clinics. It is based in Cincinnati.
“We are committed to sustainable accountability,” Sloan Gibson, deputy VA secretary, said in a statement about Hetrick’s retirement. “We will continue to use VA’s statutory authority to hold employees accountable where warranted by the evidence. That is simply the right thing to do for veterans and taxpayers.”
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