Press Releases

Washington, DC – Earlier today, as first reported by The Kansas City Star, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) sent a letter to the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration regarding veterans requesting their medical records, only to receive another individual’s information. The Congressman’s office has been made aware of this happening on three different instances. The letter specifically asks:

1. Are you aware the VA is sending out incorrect records?
2. Does the VA have a standard operating procedure in place when records are delivered to the wrong veteran?
3. How are veterans who receive the records of someone else supposed to handle them?
4. How are congressional staffers who are given the records for a veteran other than the veteran requesting supposed to handle them?
5. How can you ensure not only the veterans in my district but the veterans across this country that their records are appropriately and securely handled by your department?

Congressman Alford issued the following statement:

“The recent mistakes made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are deeply concerning. Not only are they violating the privacy of veterans, but they are violating their trust. Patients visiting VA facilities should have the utmost faith in the system to protect their medical records. These incidents undermine just that.

I look forward to hearing back from Secretary McDonough. Ensuring the security of information and records is important to me and the people of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District. We deserve to know why these mistakes were made and who made them.”

Media inquiries for Rep. Alford should be directed to Austin Higginbotham at austin.higginbotham.house.gov.