Senator Tammy Baldwin tells VA to interview whistleblowers

MADISON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is asking that the lead investigator probing allegations of opiate over prescription and retaliatory practices at a VA hospital in Tomah take into account the testimony of whistleblowers.

In a letter Thursday, Baldwin asked that VA Under Secretary Carolyn Clancy consider concerns not addressed in an earlier report. Baldwin says an investigation published in March was not thorough in its reporting of opiate-prescribing practices. A 35-year-old Marine died of an overdose in the inpatient care unit in August.

Baldwin also suggests that Clancy implement a national system for VA hospitals that prescribe opiates. Baldwin says the Tomah VA Chief of Staff David Houlihan has been suspended pending further investigation.

Clancy is on her way to Tomah and will make a statement Friday after touring the facility.