Thread by @AbbieRBennett

This timeline from VA on how the department prepped for #coronavirus is wild and let me tell you why. Here's what it leaves out (this'll have to be a thread):
- Let's start with Feb. 27, when VASEC Wilkie turned down additional help from Congress. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-to…

This was followed by 4 weeks when VA did not communicate with the public, vets, VSOs or members of Congress as requested about a coronavirus plan.
All the while, VA leaders assured Congress they were prepared as the first veterans began testing positive.
connectingvets.radio.com/articles/veter…

VA began shutting down visitation at nursing homes and other facilities full of vulnerable veterans, but still was sharing few details of its plans by the first week of March. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-li…

Concern mounted as more and more people learned that VA is intended to serve as a last line of defense for the American healthcare system in times of crisis, but we still hadn't heard from VA about its plans by the second week of March. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-a-…

Some lawmakers began flat-out calling for VA to release its coronavirus plan by March 13, including the number of tests VA had on hand.
connectingvets.radio.com/articles/congr…

The first veteran to die of the virus, according to VA, was an Oregon veteran on March 14. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/first…
VA still had yet to release its COVID-19 plan.

Around March 16, VA planned to ask Congress for more emergency cash after revealing as many as 20 percent of its patients could need additional care because of the virus. This is 2 weeks after Wilkie declined additional help when offered. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-te…

VA medical staff began coming forward in mid-March with stories about a lack of equipment, tests and other concerns, while leaders maintained VA was prepared and well-stocked. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-em…

On March 18, Wilkie attended 1 of his 2 WH press briefings so far, repeating that VA was prepared and working to open more beds and get more tests. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-wo…

That same day, lawmakers in Congress again called for updates from VA on its coronavirus response. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/congr…

While current VA leadership remained silent, former VA Sec Dr. @DavidShulkin helped fill in some gaps on what VA is capable of during crises: connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-is…

In the third week of March, Congress signed off on $60M for VA. It would turn out to be a tiny sliver of the funding VA would eventually get. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-ne…

As of March 20, 2 veterans had died and more than 100 were infected. VA still had not released its coronavirus plan.
connectingvets.radio.com/articles/2nd-v…

That same day, when concerns were raised about the 43,000 vacancies at VA, Wilkie called those concerns "silly." connectingvets.radio.com/articles/wilki…

On March 23, VA broke 200 cases. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/more-…
The same day, it issued a call for retired medical staff to return to help. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-as…

One day later, VA had nearly 400 cases on its hands and still had not released its plan to the public. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/4-vet…

Around the same time, VA told Congress it planned to pause Mission Act referrals. It did not announce this move publicly. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-wa…

By March 26, VA reached nearly 500 cases and 6 veteran deaths. Still no public plan.
connectingvets.radio.com/articles/6-vet…

.@VetAffairsOIG released a report about VA's response so far during the final week of March: connectingvets.radio.com/articles/inspe…

Then:
March 27, VA releases a coronavirus plan to the public. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-re…
It includes the news that 40 percent of VA staff could be absent during the pandemic.

That plan was released right around the same time VA was granted $20B in the federal stimulus bill. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/billi…

Now, in the middle of April, VA is backing up healthcare systems in states across the country, has postponed debt collection, is under investigation for allegedly endangering staff over #PPE shortages, delayed its $16B EHR launch, placed emergency orders of hydroxychloroquine...

... dramatically increased telehealth, is using 3D printing to combat a shortage of protective equipment, is facing staff protests, more than 5,000 veterans and 1,700 staff have tested positive, 339 vets have died and at least 17 staff have died.

Here's the timeline from VA, though I hesitate to even link it because it lacks serious context. va.gov/opa/pressrel/p…

VA says in its timeline that on Feb. 5 "guidance was released broadly to the public" on #coronavirus precautions.

But I had veteran VA patients in March telling me they had yet to hear from VA in any capacity.

VA's timeline says it developed a "long-term sustainment plan" on Feb. 8.
Then why, when lawmakers in Congress, the press, the public and veteran patients asked for it, did VA not release it until March 27?

This timeline is telling of 1 thing at least. VA says April 17 it announced arrangements to ensure veterans get their $1,200 coronavirus relief checks. That's true, but it came after weeks of lawmakers and advocates calling on VA to do something, anything. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-tr…

While vets, VSOs, lawmakers and the public waited for VA to release a coronavirus plan, Wilkie was dealing with a probe of whether he tried to discredit a vet who reported an assault connectingvets.radio.com/articles/oig-t…
and
saying socialism would kill the VA. connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-se…