Troubling allegations that Department of Veterans Affairs officials in Phoenix hid long delays in patient care through the use of off-the-books waiting lists have led the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to schedule a hearing Thursday to discuss the state of veterans' healthcare.
As many as 40 veterans have died reportedly while waiting for appointments. Last week, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee voted unanimously to subpoena VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and other senior VA officials to supply documents relating to the alleged secret waiting list intended to conceal delays in appointments that could last more than a year.