Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Little-known Treasury fund has tab for VA settlements
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6221008-74/settlements-fund-departmentLittle-known Treasury fund has tab for VA settlements
By Adam Smeltz
Published: Sunday, June 15, 2014, 10:50 p.m.
Medical malpractice and other foul-ups from the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System could cost the government hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars in civil settlements, lawyers predict.
Yet the Department of Veterans Affairs won't shell out a dime for payments, which would come from a little-known cash pool set aside exclusively to cover large judgments against federal agencies, according to the Treasury Department.
Judgment Fund payouts for VA-related issues ranged from $89.9 million in 2011 to $189.6 million in 2012 and $100.3 million in 2013. Those payments have no effect on the VA's budget, VA officials confirmed in a statement.
The arrangement keeps payouts from siphoning money from veterans' health care, but critics say it illustrates a shortage of accountability for VA executives, who are under scrutiny for receiving five-figure bonuses while thousands of veterans waited months for care.