WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced it will conduct a study to examine veterans’ access to health care in the Coastal Bend-Lower Rio Grande Valley area of Texas.
The study will include projections in the demand for VA’s health care services, taking into account seasonal fluctuations in population and workload. VA agreed to conduct the study at the request of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), who has worked closely with the Department over the years to identify ways to enhance veterans’ access to health care services in South Texas.
“VA remains committed to ensuring that our nation’s veterans have convenient access to important health care services,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “This study will ensure that veterans in South Texas are able to obtain the world-class health care they deserve.”
“I commend Sen. Hutchison for her continued support and advocacy on this issue and others affecting veterans,” Nicholson added.
The South Texas Veterans Health Care System operates three large outpatient clinics in the Valley Coastal Bend area (Harlingen, McAllen and Corpus Christi). These clinics, with more than 140 employees, offer a wide range of services, including primary care, mental health, social work, laboratory, pharmacy, physical therapy, women health, radiology and minor procedures.
Recent initiatives to improve veterans’ access to health care in the region include expanded use of contracts with private health care providers, a partnership with the University of Texas and the use of VA-staffed and contractor-run community-based outpatient clinics.
In fiscal year 2004, VA spent nearly $5 billion in Texas for health care and other benefits for the state’s 1.7 million veterans.
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