Veteran Affairs Probe Widens to 26 Medical Facilities

The probe into the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has been dramatically widened, according to the department’s Office of Inspector General.

Federal officials are now examining at least 26 of the VA’s medical facilities in accordance with an ongoing investigation into possible malfeasance.

The inquest into the agency follows testimony before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee last week after a doctor claimed that as many as 40 veterans might have died while waiting for care at a VA clinic in Phoenix. Wait-time records were also allegedly falsified.

President Obama is to meet with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors on Wednesday, to be updated on the situation at the department. Last week, President Obama assigned Nabors to work with the VA as conduct and procedures at its hospitals are reviewed.

Nabors was due to meet with officials from the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center later this week.

[AP]