Report: Percentage Of Long Wait Times At NJ VA Hospitals Lower Than National Average

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Nearly 6,000 medical appointments for veterans were delayed at least a month from September to February in New Jersey, including at one Vineland clinic that fared particularly poorly.

A review of government data by The Associated Press shows that nearly one in 16 medical appointments at the Veterans Affairs clinic in Vineland involved a wait of a month or more.

But a lower percentage in New Jersey faced long delays when compared to the country overall.

About 2.3 percent of New Jersey veterans' appointments were delayed at least 31 days at one of the state's 16 VA facilities. Nationally, 2.8 percent waited that long.

Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander Jack Kane, who goes to the East Orange facility for treatment, told WCBS 880's Levon Putney he isn't surprised at the findings on state care since the care was already superior than the national average.

"All their standards are on top, on time. All their lists are good," Kane said.

Commander Kane said he hopes congressional funding keeps flowing to maintain the progress.

"You just can't let Congress let up on the money," he said. "The funding has to be there."

The state's VA chief of staff, Dr. Steven Lieberman, said the agency was focused on access even before last year's scandals developed, leading Congress to send $16.3 billion to the department.

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