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FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Congressional Hearing on Drug Theft Risks at VA Facilities

Original title: ASSESSING VA'S RISKS FOR DRUG DIVERSION

January 1, 2018

veterans affairs drug diversion healthcare oversight controlled substances patient safety

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing addresses systemic security gaps in VA pharmacies and hospitals that lead to the illegal diversion of prescription drugs, impacting patient safety and the integrity of VA medical supply chains.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Veterans

Veterans rely on VA facilities for medical care and are impacted by the safety risks and potential medication shortages caused by drug diversion.

VA Employees

VA staff are subject to internal control policies and oversight procedures designed to prevent drug theft.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to examine vulnerabilities in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) that allow for the theft and illegal sale of . The hearing focused on internal control failures that put veterans and the public at risk, citing specific instances of by VA staff.

Key Facts

The hearing investigated internal control failures regarding controlled substances within the Veterans Health Administration.
A VA pharmacy technician in Little Rock, Arkansas, allegedly diverted 4,000 oxycodone pills, 3,000 hydrocodone pills, and over 14,000 Viagra and Cialis pills.
The estimated cost to the VA for the diverted drugs in the Little Rock case exceeded $70,000, with an estimated street value of over $160,000.
A registered nurse at a Florida VA facility was reported to have stolen oxycodone and hydromorphone for personal use.
The subcommittee identified drug diversion as a significant patient safety issue affecting veterans, employees, and the public.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is drug diversion?

is the illegal transfer of prescription drugs from their intended medical use to illicit distribution or personal use.

Why was this hearing held?

The hearing was held to address reports of drug theft within VA facilities and to evaluate the effectiveness of current oversight and .

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Internal Controls

The hearing highlights a shift toward increased scrutiny of internal pharmacy security protocols within the VA.

Veterans Health Administration

Connected Entities

personNick Dahl“Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations”Map →

personRandall B. Williamson“Director, Healthcare Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office”Map →

personJack Bergman“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations”Map →

personCarolyn Clancy“Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Organizational Excellence”Map →

personAnn Kuster“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →

organizationVeterans Health Administration“The primary agency under review for drug diversion risks”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance80
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment30
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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