Michael J. Kussman MD, the Under Secretary for Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to retire from federal service.
Kussman's retirement will go into effect as of May 9th. Since 2007 Kussman has been the Under Secretary for Health, managing a $40.2 billion health system and overseeing care delivery to more than 5.6 million Veterans.
"I've appreciated the tremendous opportunity VA has given me to continue to serve those with whom I served while in uniform," said Kussman. "VA has a reputation for providing 'the best care anywhere,' and I hope I have helped to enhance that reputation."
According to NextGov.com, Kussman wrote a memo last month to Assistant Secretary of Information and Technology Stephen Warren about concerns with the Replacement Scheduling Application (RSA) Development Program, a computer application for patient scheduling at VA hospitals.
Kussman wrote in the memo "The results is that a program starting as far back as 2001, and having spent significant funds, still has not developed a single scheduling capability it can provide to the field, nor is there any expectation of delivery in the near future."
In the memo Kussman acknowledged that halting the development of the application would be a concern "because of the numerous representations of clear progress we have been making, not only to Congress and Office of Management Budget, but more importantly to our healthcare providers, who are eagerly waiting for this capability."
According to Nextgov.com a source said Kussman "became the fall guy for the patient scheduling mess."
Kussman also faced criticism last year when the VA was accused of trying to cover up the increase in soldier suicide rates.
.
