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New Mexico VA 'Adopting' Hospital Access Changes Amid Report

Veterans Affairs' health care system officials in New Mexico say they are adopting various charges to improve access amid a critical Office of Inspector General report.

New Mexico VA Health Care System director Andrew Welch said Friday the system has revamped its troubled scheduling process, improved training and is working to provide better transportation.

A report released last month said there was "a long-standing practice of misreporting desired appointment dates" throughout the New Mexico VA system.

In 2014, Congress and veterans attacked the Department of Veterans Affairs after an investigation found some VA hospitals were using "phantom" appointment lists to disguise lengthy wait times.

An Associated Press report identified New Mexico as one of the worst ranked states for delayed appointments.

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