Nethercutt presses VA to keep hospital open

Nethercutt presses VA to keep hospital open

Senior VA official returning to Walla Walla to announce future of VA facility

May 5, 2004

WASHINGTON - The senior VA official who visited Walla Walla last month will be returning to announce the future of the VA hospital, said U.S. Rep. George R. Nethercutt (R-Wash.) today. Nethercutt spoke with Dr. Jonathan Perlin, the Acting Under Secretary for Health at the Veterans, and pushed the Administration again to keep the Walla Walla Veterans hospital open. This week the Veterans Administration is poised to make a decision on the future of facilities across the country.

"The Administration needs to understand the importance of maintaining veterans' health care access in Washington. Last month, I brought Dr. Perlin to Spokane and Walla Walla to hear directly from veterans about their concerns. The message sent by the community was clear: Communicate with us, work with us, and please ensure our veterans have access to the quality care they need close to home. I'm pleased that Dr. Perlin will be back to communicate with our community in person about the future of the VA hospital in Walla Walla.

"Today, I told the Administration not to make the same mistake of the CARES Commission and ignore the input of the local community. To proceed with the Commission's plan to close the hospital would be premature, given that the Commission's report did not fully address alternative care options for veterans. This is a tremendous shortcoming, because if there is not care available in the local area, these veterans will be moved away from their families and friends, when they need these relationships most.

"This process was supposed to increase access to care, maintain the integrity of the health mission, and minimize the adverse impact on staff and the community. If the hospital is closed, the VA will have failed at meeting the basic criteria for this plan.

"I asked Dr. Perlin to keep the hospital open, bring the facilities to top standard, use the skilled nursing resources at the VA, provide accessible care for veterans today, and ensure we are prepared to handle the next generation of veterans that will need VA services."

In February 2004, the CARES Commission, an independent body charged with providing the Secretary of the Veterans Administration with recommendations on the future of VA facilities, recommended phasing out inpatient care in Walla Walla in a recent report. The VA is undergoing a nationwide process to determine what facilities are needed to meet the needs of veterans today and in the future.