Letter to Robert McKenrick, Medical Center Executive Director - Rep. Herrell Requests VA Expand Telehealth Program for New Mexico Veterans

Letter

Dear Executive Director McKenrick,

I write to you for details on how the Veterans Administration's (VA) Accessing Telehealth through Local area Stations (ATLAS) program outreach initiatives are being conducted in New Mexico.

The VA provides care to 9 million enrolled Veterans each year, with roughly one third of them residing in rural areas. Through the pandemic and beyond, Telehealth services offered but the VA have provided essential healthcare services to patients remotely while reducing wait times, transportation costs, and travel time for Veterans, especially those who reside in rural locations.

As you are aware, ATLAS is a strategic collaboration between the VA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Walmart, Philips, and healthcare companies such as CareLink, Caregility, and Steelcase. This program is essential in integrating public-private partnerships to implement Telehealth technologies and infrastructure at select Walmarts, American Legion Posts and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post across the country. I am aware of thirteen locations total that exist across the United States to date.

Given broadband connectivity challenges in New Mexico, the ATLAS program would be instrumental to fill some voids in coverage across our state. By bringing these technologies into rural areas. more Veterans could access much-needed services and care without having to rely on unstable or nonexistent internet connections for Telehealth appointments or drive long distances for an appointment.

Stemming foor initiatives such as the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) set forth in the VA Mission Act of 2018, I am interested in knowing what specifically is being done to advocate for, implement, and offer this type of public-private partnership and service to New Mexico's Veteran communities that need it the most.

My district alone is home to eighteen Walmarts and several American Legion Posts and Veterans of Foreign Wars locations, which would be well-equipped to furnish these telehealth services. I look forward to working with you to bring this essential program to New Mexico; please see the questions I have below. I look forward to your response.

1. Has outreach from the VA New Mexico Health Care system been proposed or conducted to American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War Posts and potential private sector partners to establish ATLAS programming in New Mexico's rural communities?

2. In what capacity and to what extent has outreach been done? What has been the response or has there been a lack of response from veteran organizations and businesses?

3. What barriers or hesitations have been presented by American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts, or private businesses as challenges to entering these partnerships?

4. How can my office be of assistance in forging these public-private partnerships in the future to expand Telehealth options for rural veterans in New Mexico?

Sincerely,
Yvette Herrell
Member of Congress
New Mexico's Second Congressional District

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