As discussed below, the Order of the Purple Heart in Arkansas asked for a Congressional investigation into veteran complaints that Bruce Lunsford's company, Valor Healthcare, gave them shoddy medical care.
Specifically, the Arkansas vets question how Valor was able to qualify for a contract that was supposed to be awarded to "small businesses," given that the "former CEO and majority stockholder of Valor Healthcare [Lunsford] was fined $ 104 million by the Department of Justice for defrauding healthcare programs in 2001."
Lunsford, a multi-millionaire with a stake in many companies and ventures, is not exactly the paradigm of a small businessman.
The resolution contends that the quality of health care deteriorated after Valor took over the clinic -- and resulted in the amputation of one vet's finger and and foot.
The Order of the Purple Heart passed the resolution on March 8, 2008 --before Kentucky Democrats selected Lunsford as their nominee.
Showing posts with label Valor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valor. Show all posts
Thursday, October 2, 2008
C-J: 57,000 Vets Complain About Lunsford's Clinics; One in Ad Now Satisfied
U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford has persuaded one of the veterans who initially complained about receiving lousy health care at Lunsford's Valor V.A. clinics to now say that his complaints have been satisfied. The Veteran, Adolfo Pina of Texas, appears in a new Lunsford ad to clarify comments that he made in an ad for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
In out-takes, Mr. Pena acknowledged on camera when he was interviewed for the McConnell ad that he gave permission for McConnell to use his comments complaining about Valor in the campaign ads.
Buried towards the end of Joe Gerth's Courier-Journal article on the oddity of both candidates running ads with the same veteran, is this:
McConnell's ad contends that the company mistreats veterans and provides them with inadequate health care -- claims that have been made by some of the company's 57,000 clients. (Emphasis added.)
That's nearly the number of troops killed in Vietnam. This is the first indication that we've seen of the magnitude of veteran dissatisfaction with Lunsford's clinic.
In addition, Gerth reports -- also in the jump, at the end of the article -- that
The Hot Springs chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart has asked for a congressional investigation into Valor's services there.
Congratulations to Lunsford for rectifying Mr. Pena's concerns about the health care he received at Lunsford's clinic. That was the right thing to do. We hope that if he has not already, Lunsford will do the same for the other 57,000 veterans who -- like Pena -- also complained.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.
In out-takes, Mr. Pena acknowledged on camera when he was interviewed for the McConnell ad that he gave permission for McConnell to use his comments complaining about Valor in the campaign ads.
Buried towards the end of Joe Gerth's Courier-Journal article on the oddity of both candidates running ads with the same veteran, is this:
McConnell's ad contends that the company mistreats veterans and provides them with inadequate health care -- claims that have been made by some of the company's 57,000 clients. (Emphasis added.)
That's nearly the number of troops killed in Vietnam. This is the first indication that we've seen of the magnitude of veteran dissatisfaction with Lunsford's clinic.
In addition, Gerth reports -- also in the jump, at the end of the article -- that
The Hot Springs chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart has asked for a congressional investigation into Valor's services there.
Congratulations to Lunsford for rectifying Mr. Pena's concerns about the health care he received at Lunsford's clinic. That was the right thing to do. We hope that if he has not already, Lunsford will do the same for the other 57,000 veterans who -- like Pena -- also complained.
Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Dem. Congressman Got Complaints About Lunsford Clinic
Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX) received complaints from veterans about shoddy care at a Veterans Administration clinic contracted to Valor Healthcare, a Bruce Lunsford company.
The Demo-blogs have attempted to portray Congressional inquiries about Valor as some sort of conspiracy between Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (who asked the VA to look into Valor's treatment of Texas veterans; see previous post). The "proof" of this conspiracy is the supposed failure of Hutchison to visit the clinic in person.
Whether or not Hutchison visited the clinic is irrelevant. As a result of the complaints he received, Democratic Congressman Lampson visited one of the clinics in person late April.
According to the Democratic Caucus website, Lampson visited a Valor clinic on April 29 -- several days before Kentucky Democrats had voted Lunsford their nominee to challenge McConnell.
Such is the paranoia of the left. McConnell is so powerful that he has co-opted the Democratic Caucus to tar his opponent in advance of knowing who that opponent might be.
The Demo-blogs also boast that Lunsford's company, Valor, saved the federal government money. It's easy to see why: as the article on the Democratic Caucus website notes, "under its contract, Valor is paid $400 per patient per year regardless of how much care that patient receives." Valor had a financial incentive to enroll veterans and then not treat them.
Bottom line: veterans in other states who have no interest in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race complained well before this election that they were denied adequate care from a company over which Lunsford presided as Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
The Demo-blogs have attempted to portray Congressional inquiries about Valor as some sort of conspiracy between Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (who asked the VA to look into Valor's treatment of Texas veterans; see previous post). The "proof" of this conspiracy is the supposed failure of Hutchison to visit the clinic in person.
Whether or not Hutchison visited the clinic is irrelevant. As a result of the complaints he received, Democratic Congressman Lampson visited one of the clinics in person late April.
According to the Democratic Caucus website, Lampson visited a Valor clinic on April 29 -- several days before Kentucky Democrats had voted Lunsford their nominee to challenge McConnell.
Such is the paranoia of the left. McConnell is so powerful that he has co-opted the Democratic Caucus to tar his opponent in advance of knowing who that opponent might be.
The Demo-blogs also boast that Lunsford's company, Valor, saved the federal government money. It's easy to see why: as the article on the Democratic Caucus website notes, "under its contract, Valor is paid $400 per patient per year regardless of how much care that patient receives." Valor had a financial incentive to enroll veterans and then not treat them.
Bottom line: veterans in other states who have no interest in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race complained well before this election that they were denied adequate care from a company over which Lunsford presided as Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
V is For Villain
Candidate for U.S. Senate Bruce Lunsford seems drawn to the letter "V." His name remains synonomous with his failed company, Vencor, and its scandalous treatment of not only shareholders but comatose patients. Lunsford likes to boast that his next corporation, Ventas, arose from Vencor's ashes. And now, a television spot from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell introduces us to yet another Lunsford company, Valor Healthcare.
Valor is in the business of winning federal government contracts to provide medical care for veterans at community based outpatient clinics. It does not, at this point, operate any such clinics in Kentucky. Bruce Lunsford served as Valor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and according to his financial disclosure form, remains on its Board of Directors.
Veterans have complained about Valor providing substandard care at its clinics in Arkansas and Texas. In the McConnell ad, veterans, including from Vietnam and World War II, describe their first-hand experience with Valor, and as with Vencor, it's not a flattering picture of Lunsford's company.
Valor's federal contract apparently pays the company a flat rate for each veteran it enrolls, regardless of their medical needs. Consequently, the company has a strong financial incentive to do as little as possible for the veterans. Valor, in short, can (and apparently does) increase its profits by decreasing the amount of care it provides. Some of its veterans complain that Valor denied them needed treatments and medicines to save money.
All Americans should be outraged when our government fails to provide our veterans with the care they need. These soldiers have earned our respect and thanks, and a grateful country conveys that by giving them state of the art medical treatment. That's not just good policy; it's a moral imperative. It applies with full force whether the government is rendering the care or, as with Valor, the care is privatized -- contracted to a private company.
Simply put, Lunsford's company let these soldiers down.
And as with Vencor, Lunsford profited at the expense of the taxpayers. Valor gave veterans inadequate care and then billed the federal government. All of this happened on Lunsford's watch.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, after receiving complaints from constituents, asked the Veterans Administration to look into the allegations. On August 28, 2008, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James B. Peake responded.
Peake told Hutchison that the VA "fully investigated" the issues at the Valor clinics. The VA "looked into the veterans' complaints and found them to be valid," Peake wrote. As a result of the "deficiencies" that the VA found, "failure to meet the performance measures has resulted in financial penalties" against Valor.
Though it is not in the financial services industry, Valor's mistreatment of veterans -- while the taxpayer pays -- epitomizes the greed and incompetence we've witnessed lately in the housing debacle. Entrepreneurs, like Lunsford, use government money to get rich and conduct their business however they want.
Lunsford's company exploited the sick and the elderly who risked their lives to protect our country. Lunsford's company ripped off the taxpayers by failing to do its job competently and honorably. Lunsford may be drawn to the letter "V" to name his companies because when it comes to his (third) run for public office, "V" does not stand for victory.
Valor is in the business of winning federal government contracts to provide medical care for veterans at community based outpatient clinics. It does not, at this point, operate any such clinics in Kentucky. Bruce Lunsford served as Valor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and according to his financial disclosure form, remains on its Board of Directors.
Veterans have complained about Valor providing substandard care at its clinics in Arkansas and Texas. In the McConnell ad, veterans, including from Vietnam and World War II, describe their first-hand experience with Valor, and as with Vencor, it's not a flattering picture of Lunsford's company.
Valor's federal contract apparently pays the company a flat rate for each veteran it enrolls, regardless of their medical needs. Consequently, the company has a strong financial incentive to do as little as possible for the veterans. Valor, in short, can (and apparently does) increase its profits by decreasing the amount of care it provides. Some of its veterans complain that Valor denied them needed treatments and medicines to save money.
All Americans should be outraged when our government fails to provide our veterans with the care they need. These soldiers have earned our respect and thanks, and a grateful country conveys that by giving them state of the art medical treatment. That's not just good policy; it's a moral imperative. It applies with full force whether the government is rendering the care or, as with Valor, the care is privatized -- contracted to a private company.
Simply put, Lunsford's company let these soldiers down.
And as with Vencor, Lunsford profited at the expense of the taxpayers. Valor gave veterans inadequate care and then billed the federal government. All of this happened on Lunsford's watch.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, after receiving complaints from constituents, asked the Veterans Administration to look into the allegations. On August 28, 2008, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James B. Peake responded.
Peake told Hutchison that the VA "fully investigated" the issues at the Valor clinics. The VA "looked into the veterans' complaints and found them to be valid," Peake wrote. As a result of the "deficiencies" that the VA found, "failure to meet the performance measures has resulted in financial penalties" against Valor.
Though it is not in the financial services industry, Valor's mistreatment of veterans -- while the taxpayer pays -- epitomizes the greed and incompetence we've witnessed lately in the housing debacle. Entrepreneurs, like Lunsford, use government money to get rich and conduct their business however they want.
Lunsford's company exploited the sick and the elderly who risked their lives to protect our country. Lunsford's company ripped off the taxpayers by failing to do its job competently and honorably. Lunsford may be drawn to the letter "V" to name his companies because when it comes to his (third) run for public office, "V" does not stand for victory.
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