Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) has joined with 11 of her colleagues in the House in calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General to review and make recommendations to improve services offered for female veterans at the VA. Millions of women have served our country honorably, and Kuster has long urged the VA to adequately ensure that their health needs are met when they return home.

“Around 20 percent of active duty service members are women, and they must receive the same high-quality care offered to their male counterparts at the VA when they return home. Although the VA is making progress in this area, many VA facilities need to be updated in order to properly ensure that female veterans can access the specific services they need, including gender specific care. What’s more, the VA must provide the privacy these women deserve during visits with their doctors,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster.  “Care for our veterans is not a partisan issue, and I’m proud to join with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in calling on the Inspector General’s office to conduct a thorough review of how the VA can improve services for our female veterans.”  

In a bipartisan letter to the Deputy Inspector General at the VA, Kuster and her colleagues urged for a full investigation into policies at the VA designed to meet the needs of female veterans. The letter specifically requests recommendations be made to improve privacy standards for female veteran visits to the VA, and to increase the ability of the VA to provide gender specific care for female veterans, including basic and complex gynecological services.

Kuster has long advocated for the fair treatment of women veterans at the VA. Along with Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Kuster is a sponsor of legislation that would provide travel benefits for victims of military sexual assault, so they can access the appropriate medical services they need to recover. In 2013, Kuster helped pass bipartisan legislation to enhance whistleblower protections for service members who report instances of sexual assault in the military.  Kuster has also toured the new women’s center at the White River Junction VA Medical Center and spoken with staff about the need for improved services for female veterans at the VA.

The text of the letter is below:

Mr. Richard Griffin

Deputy Inspector General - Department of Veterans Affairs

801 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Dear Mr. Griffin,

Female veterans are the fastest growing population served by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Women currently comprise about 10% of the population of the VA, but are about 20% of the active duty components. It is critical that the VA and especially the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are prepared to serve the unique needs of female veterans.

To help the VA and Congress better identify the needs of female veterans utilizing health care services at VHA, we respectfully request that you conduct an inspection into policies designed to meet the needs of female veterans.

Specifically, we ask that you review and make recommendations to improve the following:

• The efficacy of VHA’s stated privacy standards for female veterans.
• VHA’s compliance with their stated privacy standards for female veterans (including physical requirements such as sound and vision barriers).
• The ability of VHA to provide gender specific care for female veterans, including basic and complex gynecological services.

Thank you for consideration of this request.

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