Washington, DC -
The members of Vermont's Congressional Delegation - Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) - welcomed the announcement Monday
that the VA Medical Center in White River Junction has been selected to host the
East Coast's Rural Health Resource Center. The Vermont lawmakers have pressed for steps to increase VA
medical access in Vermont's rural
areas.
The U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to open the White River Junction Rural Health
Resource Center on Oct. 1, along with two other
centers in other parts of the country. Leahy, Sanders and Welch noted that the
facility will draw additional resources and staff to Vermont's VA medical
center, with details to be solidified soon. These centers will serve as
satellite offices for the VA's Office of Rural Health and will help identify
disparities in health care for rural veterans and develop programs to improve
the delivery of care.
In June the Vermont
Delegation sent a letter of support to the VA for one of the centers to be based
in White River Junction. The White River Junction Medical Center already produces policy research on
rural veterans, which will continue in the new center.
"For several years
the congressionally mandated Rural Health Care Initiative provided added support
for quality health care at White River Junction VA Medical Center," said Leahy.
"The new resource center will build on this expertise, deepening the Medical Center's commitment to bringing quality
health care to veterans, no matter where they live. This is another
constructive step forward to help bring these services to veterans in and near
Vermont."
"It is no secret
that many rural veterans have a difficult time accessing the VA health benefits
they have earned through their service. This new program at White River
Junction will help us develop the innovative solutions we need so that every
veteran gets access to the care he or she deserves," Sanders
said.
Welch said, "This is
a significant step in assuring the VA is innovative and effective at meeting the
needs of rural veterans. Establishing these Rural Health Resource Centers
recognizes the unique needs of rural veterans and also the disproportionately
high number of veterans who live in rural areas like Vermont."
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