Lawmakers Promise Audit Of Wisconsin Veterans Home At King

Republican lawmakers have promised an audit of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King following reports of inadequate care for residents at the facility.

Democrats praised the move, but questioned why it hadn’t happened sooner, saying they also wanted to see a federal investigation.

Green Bay Republican Sen. Robert Cowles, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee, said that if there are problems at King, he trusts the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau to find them.

“It is not biased toward Republicans (or) biased toward the Democrats,” Cowles said. “I call them an equal opportunity embarrassment unit. So if there’s something wrong that’s embarrassing that should be fixed, they’ll point it out, and they’re not afraid to do that.”

Cowles said lawmakers were working on scheduling an audit in the next few weeks rather than waiting until the full Legislature returns to Madison next year. He cited a recent Cap Times story where those interviewed complained of neglect at the facility, ranging from inattentive care to moldy walls and outdated medical equipment.

“I think that kicks it to the level of, hey, we’ve got to get this done now,” he said.

Cowles said the audit would follow the guidance laid out last week by Sen. Luther Olsen, whose district includes King. Olsen wants the state Legislative Audit Bureau to report back on a variety of issues, including staff training and turnover at King, as well as the general condition of the facility.

Democrats support the move, but said it’s coming far too late.

“I’m glad that the audit committee will be taking this up,” said Democratic Sen. Julie Lassa of Stevens Point. “I’m just really frustrated, though, that I put in a request for this audit last October.”

In addition to reports of neglect, Lassa and Janesville Democratic Sen. Janis Ringhand voiced concern over the budget surpluses being run at King and then transferred to other veterans programs.

“If we have such a surplus, certainly the cost per patient could come down,” Ringhand said. “Or is the care so short-handed that the funds are being brought in, but the care not being dispensed? I don’t honestly know.”

Ringhand and Lassa said the federal government had an interest in knowing more, given the amount of federal funding that flows to facilities like King.

Gov. Scott Walker’s spokesman, Tom Evenson, said the state Department of Health Services’ quality assurance division is required by law to look into concerns like these, and would do so again in the case of King.

“Our administration has been incredibly responsive to concerns raised,” Evenson said.

Evenson also said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently reviewed King in June and didn’t cite a single health care deficiency.