VA hospital manager in Augusta ordered jailed

By Sandy Hodson

The Augusta Chronicle

AUGUSTA (TNS) — A manager at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta who faces federal charges in connection with veterans’ medical care was jailed Monday.

Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Epps revoked the $15,000 bond he set for Cathedral Henderson, 50, on July 17.

According to court documents, Henderson violated bond by contacting a potential witness in the prosecution’s case that alleges he ordered staff to falsify the medical records of veterans in need of care not available at the VA Hospital.

Epps set an Aug. 17 date for a status hearing in the case.

Henderson was named in a 50-count indictment July 8. It accuses him of 50 counts of making false statements. The crime is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, after news broke in 2013 that veterans across the country had been unable to access necessary medical services, Henderson was the person responsible in Augusta for ensuring that all veterans awaiting approval for medical care outside the VA were properly handled.

The undersecretary for Health at the VA issued a memorandum to all VA Medical Centers to have every unresolved consult for outside medical care handled by May 1, 2014. Each case had to be investigated to determine if services were provided, services were no longer needed or if the patient declined the services.

According to the indictment, Henderson ordered employees to falsify medical records to show each case had been properly closed.