Durbin asks Pentagon for review of complications at military hospitals

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday requested Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to investigate mismanagement at military hospitals.

In a letter to Hagel, Durbin asked the Pentagon chief to evaluate the military health care system in light of a recent article in The New York Times finding that smaller hospitals have higher rates of complications or deaths than civilian hospitals. 

{mosads}Durbin, who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense, asked Hagel to brief his panel on its conclusions as part of an already ongoing review of the military health system ordered in May. The assessment is expected to be completed in the fall.

“In light of deeply concerning reports of subpar care and mismanagement within the military health system, I ask that all cases of permanent harm or death are thoroughly and impartially investigated,” Durbin wrote. “I request that you ensure these concerns are addressed in this review and to brief the Committee on its results and conclusions as soon as possible.”