Ex-official's firm receiving VA fees

WASHINGTON - A California company headed by former Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi could get fees exceeding $1 billion from the Veterans Affairs, much of it on contracts approved and amended while he ran the agency, records show.

Principi was president of the medical services company, QTC Management, before joining the Bush Cabinet in 2001. He ran the VA for four years, then returned to the company as chairman of the board.

Another Halliburton-style mudslinging attack. Companies like QTC, Halliburton, and others are uniqely qualified to do the jobs they're rewarded. Likewise, the executives employed by those type corporations have experience and insight when dealing with the government. It's no wonder they're tapped for administration positions. Nothing new here.

As a VA contractor, Principi's company administers medical exams to veterans applying for disability assistance. It also examines soldiers before their discharge. The VA is QTC's biggest customer

The bot apologists have spoken....

Wounded combat vets are given compensation and pension exams by a company that an administrator owns stock in...

If you have ever been around the VA or gone through one of their dog and pony shows....you know it's bad enough the VA does the exams without you having a lawyer present and your own private physician...

There is a conflict of interest here...but there always has been...

That is why wounded/disabled Veterans need the services of the service organizations...Purple Heart, DAV (Disabled American Veterans),AMVETS....PVA (Paralyzed Veterans Association)

With claims reps from the service organizations...as watch dogs over the VA comp and pent folks who tend to be generous to their friends and not so much to the veterans they are paid to take care of....the vet at least stands a chance to get what was earned and at the very least deserved...

Never trust the VA to do the right thing by your family member...always get a back up (Service Officer) from one of the PRIVATE service organizations...

imo and experience....

There is a huge backlog getting into the VA for these screening appointments and it puts undue stress on the veteran. As long as QTC is performing the screenings promptly and fairly, If it speeds up the claims process, I'm for outsourcing as much as possible out of the VA. Nothing like waiting 4 months for an appointment, drive two hours to the VA, and having Shaniqua tell you she called ten minutes ago to cancel the appointment.

QTC doesn't pay out the disability money.

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