Lawmakers are requesting more detailed data on veteran coronavirus cases

The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee is working together with democratic lawmakers to request more detailed demographics on veteran coronavirus patients from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Daily updates on VA patients, including their age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation and preferred language have been requested by Chairman Mark Takano, D-California, along with Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; and Reps. Judy Chu and Karen Bass, both California Democrats. An analysis of data for all patients treated in VA health facilities since the very beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak has also been requested, reported Military.com.

“We need to know what early trends the largest integrated health care system in the United States is seeing in its patient data and what is needed to address disparities,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“[This will] better enable VA to protect and treat those veterans who are at heightened risk during the pandemic.”

The lawmakers have requested that the information be included in the VA’s daily updates to the House Veterans Affairs Committee by June 1st.

As of Thursday, May 28th, the VA had 13,657 confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst veterans, employees, and others treated within in the VA health system. Currently, the VA has only 1,218 active COVID-19 cases – down from nearly 3,000 active cases at the beginning of May.