| Associated Press Web Posted : 04/15/2002 12:00 AM WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi is standing by a decision to stop recruiting veterans into the department's overwhelmed health care system.
Principi on Thursday rebuffed an effort by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to oust Laura Miller, the undersecretary whose name was on a memo directing the department's 23 health network directors to stop advertising for new patients.
"This was my decision. I reject any notion that Laura Miller should resign," Principi said.
He said the department remains open to any veteran who wants to enroll in its health care programs and will continue to offer health screenings at such sites as veterans halls.
But, Principi said, it would be misleading to actively recruit new patients into a health care system that — largely because of a congressionally mandated change — already has thousands who are waiting months for clinic appointments.
In a July 18 memo, Miller directed each network director to "ensure that no marketing activities to enroll new veterans occur within your networks."
Even facilities that could absorb new patients were expected to abide by the policy, it said.
Kerry gathered 13 signatures — 11 Democrats, one Republican and one independent — on a letter to President Bush that asked for Miller's removal and for Bush to direct the agency to overturn the anti-recruitment policy.
The department "faces a funding crisis of monumental proportions," Kerry wrote. "But certainly the solution to this crisis is not to deny services or hide them from our veterans."
08/02/2002 |