WASHINGTON -- U.S. senators gave a warm reception to President Barack Obama's nominee to head the embattled health care system at the Department of Veterans Affairs in a committee hearing Tuesday.
Senators on the Veterans Affairs Committee lauded Dr. David Shulkin's private-sector experience and military ties as they considered his nomination as VA undersecretary for health. They expressed high hopes for reform when it comes to providing veterans with access to health care, particularly for mental health.
Shulkin is currently president of the private Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey and has spent much of his career running East Coast hospitals and private-sector companies.
Though broadly pleased with Shulkin as the nominee, lawmakers made clear they are by no means satisfied with the state of the agency.
Shulkin would oversee the nation's largest health care system, covering 9 million military veterans nationally. Alaska has the highest percentage of veterans of any state, and its far-flung population has proved a challenge to the agency, pushing it to become a leader in telemedicine.
The last man to have the job Shulkin is seeking, Dr. Robert Petzel, resigned last year amid a major scandal over revelations that agency officials engaged in a cover-up to downplay the amount of time veterans had to wait for care at a Phoenix hospital.Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned a short time later.
The issue raised concerns nationwide and has spurred efforts in Congress and the Obama administration to reform the struggling system.
At his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Shulkin said he thinks there is a "crisis of confidence within the VA" and his "sole mission" is to "transform the VA into one that provides our veterans with the highest level of care."
Senators on both sides of the aisle pushed for a focus on mental health, allowing for private care, and encouraging a culture in which whistleblowers are welcome.
Shulkin in return told senators that his top priorities, if confirmed, would be to expand access to care, particularly for mental health issues, allow veterans to take advantage of available private sector care, and "restore the confidence of not only the veterans … but the people who work in the VA."
"Our veterans deserve better than the care that we're able to give right now," Shulkin said.
"It's a massive system, there's no question about it," Shulkin said. His goal would be to provide a vision, goals and accountability for the agency, while tracking progress and engaging the VA's workforce, he said.
Several lawmakers urged Shulkin to focus on the quality and availability of mental health programs for veterans, particularly those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
Veteran suicide at a rate of 22 people a day is "something that none of us can be satisfied with," Shulkin said. "The quality of mental health care is nowhere near where it should be."
Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican member of the committee, appeared to spark Shulkin's interest with a query about the availability of volunteer opportunities for doctors.
Many have found that "if you're a doctor and you want to help the VA" on a volunteer basis, "the VA doesn't want you to help," Sullivan said. "You can't even volunteer to help the VA if you're a world-class surgeon," Sullivan said he's been told by many people. Referring to Alaska's high percentage of veterans, Sullivan added, "A lot of them are actually doctors."
"I didn't know that that was a problem, and if confirmed, I'm going to try and find out the reason why," Shulkin replied. "We need the help," he said, and if doctors are competent and qualified, there should be a way for doctors to donate time.
The Department of Veterans Affairs does provide opportunities to volunteer and says more than 140,000 volunteers have given time to the agency. But programs advocated on the agency's website are focused on visiting and transporting patients, rather than providing medical care.
Shulkin also told the senator he "would absolutely commit to coming up and seeing Alaska."
The committee has not yet set a date to vote on Shulkin's nomination. If passed, his nomination would then move to the floor for a vote of the full Senate.