WASHINGTON, D.C. – After receiving a letter from the Director of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Heartland Network (VISN) 15 detailing several Missouri facilities where veterans waited for care for longer than 90 days, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) pressed all of the Missouri facilities in VISN-15 to disclose whether or not they’ve had “unauthorized” waiting lists that compromised care for area veterans.

Last week, officials from the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (KC VAMC) revealed to Blunt’s staff that it had an “unauthorized” list of 37 veterans seeking treatment in the cardiology clinic. After learning this news, Blunt followed up with the other VISN-15 facilities by sending letters to the Director of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Mo.; the Acting Medical Center Director of the VA St. Louis Health Care System; and the Director of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

“Our veterans deserve access to the best care available. I’ll continue to do everything I can to ensure these heroes receive just that,” said Blunt.

Last month, Blunt visited the John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. and the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Mo. On May 12, 2014, Blunt and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (Mo.) sent a letter to the VA Secretary and the VA St. Louis Health Care System demanding answers regarding serious allegations of delays and inefficiencies at the John Cochran VA. Blunt’s office has not received a response regarding the John Cochran allegations to date.