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HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) — A federal review has determined some South Texas physicians stopped accepting veterans as patients because a Veterans Affairs center was not reimbursing the doctors in a timely manner.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel in a Monday report also found the VA center in Harlingen did not comply with rules for credentials and privileges granted to doctors who treated veterans.
The report also notes failings at VA centers elsewhere.
The Harlingen VA office acknowledged Monday not paying providers on time in the past but said that with improved processes and more staff, they now pay 96 percent of properly submitted claims within 30 days. The office says regarding the credentialing and privileging issue, there was one instance in 2012 in which proper procedures weren't followed but it was immediately corrected.
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