WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced his bipartisan VA Peer Review Neutrality Act to ensure neutrality and accountability in the VA’s peer review process – which is used to improve quality of care at VA medical facilities in Michigan and across the country.
Peters originally introduced this legislation in 2023 after the VA Office of the Medical Inspector (OMI) investigated allegations regarding the quality of care at the Detroit VA Medical Center, including concerns about the quality and neutrality of the peer review process. In response to a congressional request from Peters, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) opened an inspection to assess the facility’s progress implementing the OMI’s recommendations. During the inspection, the OIG identified additional concerns that the facility still needed to resolve regarding the peer review process of Peer Review Committee members. Peters’ VA Peer Review Neutrality Act – cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and John Boozman (R-AR) – would help address these concerns about the peer review process and ensure it is conducted effectively.
“Our nation’s veterans deserve nothing but the best quality health care and support, which is why I remain committed to remedying the past misconduct at the Detroit VA Medical Center and improving VA care across Michigan,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to help ensure all veterans receive quality care by establishing commonsense measures to make sure the VA peer review process is conducted impartially.”
The peer review process is employed to improve quality of care in VA medical facilities. Currently, the peer review process consists of an initial review conducted by an individual peer reviewer followed by an evaluation and discussion of their assessment of care conducted by the broader Peer Review Committee.
The VA Peer Neutrality Act would require that peer reviewers must withdraw from the review process if they had direct involvement in the case in question or there is a conflict of interest. Peters’ bill would also require that peer reviews of Peer Review Committee members – which are responsible for investigating complaints or concerns about quality of care – must be evaluated at a final level by a neutral peer review committee at another VA facility.
Peters’ VA Peer Review Neutrality Act is supported by the Project on Government Oversight and the Disabled American Veterans.
“POGO is pleased to endorse the VA Peer Review Neutrality Act. Eliminating conflicts of interest from the VA’s peer review process is an essential step toward better oversight of and accountability for veterans’ medical care. We appreciate Senator Peters and Senator Boozman for their leadership to ensure that veterans receive the highest standard of care and treatment they deserve,” said Joe Spielberg, Senior Policy Counsel for the Project on Government Oversight.
Peters has been committed to supporting our nation’s servicemembers and veterans. Earlier this year, Peters’ bipartisan legislation was signed into law to ensure our military families can continue to be laid to rest together in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. This law grants the VA the authority to bury the spouse or child of a service member in the tragic case that their death precedes the servicemember.
In 2021, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation’s veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law as part of the national defense bill. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or other related conditions connected to their military service. In 2022, Peters helped enact the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act – which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors for the first time in our nation’s history.
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