Hiding the VA's problems

Paul Krugman tries to minimize the current VA concern - instead blaming high costs in other parts of the health care industry for our problems.
It takes to the end of the column to address the VA problem.
And, yes, some officials appear to have responded to incentives to reduce waiting times by falsifying data.
If data can be so easily falsified, then why does he rely so much on his data for the blame of high costs?
He blames medical personnel for performing high costs tests.
And insurance companies for spending money to verify coverage.
How much of this extra cost can be blamed on government mandates?
Krugman doesn't seem to have data for that.
Or interest.