Wisconsin
U.S. Rep. Steil: Requests Federal Review of Wisconsin State-Run Veterans Home at Union Grove Following Investigative Report
WASHINGTON, DC— At the moment, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) despatched a letter to U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs Secretary McDonough and Middle for Medicare and Medicaid Companies Administrator Brooks-LaSure in response to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s investigative report on the Wisconsin Veterans Dwelling at Union Grove.
The letter reads:
I write to share my excessive concern relating to a current investigative report printed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that exposes the mistreatment of veterans on the state-run Wisconsin Veterans Dwelling at Union Grove, in Wisconsin’s First Congressional district.[1]
The article highlights how the state-run facility in Union Grove ranks among the many worst within the nation and has quite a few federal violations. The investigative report shares horrible tales of residents on the Union Grove residence not being given water, residents being given remedy by mistake, residents struggling abuse, and extra. I belief you agree that this sort of remedy of our veterans is unacceptable. Our veterans deserve the best high quality of care, and this degree of mistreatment can’t be tolerated.
The standard of care at this facility has lengthy been a priority of mine and of the folks of Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. For added background, again in 2020, I made a number of inquiries highlighting points the Union Grove residence was going through relating to instances and deaths of veterans contaminated with COVID-19. At the moment, I wrote the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) asking for a assessment of this facility. At the moment my workplace was then notified that federal officers supplied session and staffing help to veterans’ residence at Union Grove, however that supply of help was declined. Provided that staffing ranges have lengthy been, and continues to be, a serious concern on the facility, I then despatched a subsequent letter to the Wisconsin Division of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) asking why this help was turned down from the VA.
It’s now abundantly clear that the veteran’s residence in Union Grove has a lot bigger points than even I and the individuals who reached out to me had been reporting in 2020.
Whereas I’m conscious that it is a state-run facility, I ask you to assessment the issues outlined within the article and take all acceptable motion needed to make sure the right remedy of veterans within the Wisconsin Veterans Dwelling at Union Grove.
Thanks to your immediate consideration to this matter and every part you do to take take care of America’s heroes
A replica of the total textual content of the letter may be discovered right here.
Congressman Steil’s assertion in response to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s investigative report may be discovered right here.
Background:
Congressman Bryan Steil represents Union Grove in Wisconsin’s First Congressional District.
On September 4, 2020, Steil wrote a letter to U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to analyze the coronavirus outbreak on the Wisconsin Veterans Dwelling at Union Grove. To learn the total letter, click on right here.
On November 18, 2020, Steil obtained a response to the request from the U.S. DVA noting that federal officers supplied consultations and staffing help to the state veterans residence in Might. That provide was declined till August, after the outbreak occurred. To learn extra about this response, click on right here.
On November 23, 2020, Steil wrote a letter to Wisconsin Division of Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar relating to the rise in coronavirus outbreaks and requesting a response relating to the federal help declined by state officers. To learn the total letter, click on right here.
On December 9, 2020, Steil obtained a response from the Wisconsin DVA stating steps the State of Wisconsin has taken to fight the coronavirus with out mentioning staffing help requested. To learn the total letter in response to Steil, click on right here.
On Might 26, 2022, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel printed an investigative report wanting into the quite a few Middle for Medicare and Medicaid Companies (CMS) violations on the Veterans Dwelling at Union Grove. Union Grove’s violation document ranks 27th out of 343 services in Wisconsin. Out of 117 CMS-certified state veterans households, Union Grove ranked within the prime 5 for having essentially the most violations and fines. To learn the total investigative report, click on right here.
