Arizona Dem calls on VA to resume data on wait times

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Friday called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue publishing data on the length of times veterans wait to receive benefits.

In a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald, Sinema said the data helped keep the agency accountable.

{mosads}”This information is important to ensuring veterans receive timely access to care and to restoring trust in the VA health system,” Sinema wrote. “I encourage you to quickly publish this information as part of the effort to improve transparency and accountability at the VA.”

The data includes information on the number of appointments scheduled, rate of appointments scheduled within 30 days and the number of veterans on wait lists.

The VA began publishing data on wait times on a bi-monthly basis starting in May 2014. However, the VA paused the reporting to implement new reportin requirements in the VA reform bill that President Obama signed into law earlier this year.