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WASHINGTON - Senator Joe Lieberman today asked Veterans Administration (VA) Secretary Anthony Principi why cuts to Connecticut's veterans' hospital services were planned despite a smaller than expected VA budget shortfall. Lieberman also joined other New England Senators in arguing to Principi that the region has been forced to absorb more than its fair share of cuts.
The VA first proposed last fall to consolidate veterans specialty health care facilities as a way to reduce a projected $80 million regional budget shortfall, but both Principi and New England's regional VA director, Dr. Jeannette Chirico-Post, recently said the actual shortfall will be substantially smaller. In light of the revised budget estimates, Lieberman strongly urged Principi to reconsider the proposed consolidation of Connecticut's VA facilities.
"On behalf of the hundreds of Connecticut veterans who have contacted me about the issue, I am very concerned about fairness and the necessity of clinic closures at the Newington VA Hospital," Lieberman said. "When the VA asked Connecticut to consolidate our services a few years ago, we did. Connecticut veterans have done their fair share. But now the VA again is asking our veterans to sacrifice quality healthcare."
Since the VA proposed last fall to close specialty services at the Newington VA Hospital and refer patients to the West Haven VA Hospital, Lieberman has steadfastly urged VA officials not to move forward with the proposal. Last December Lieberman joined the Connecticut delegation in writing to Principi to ask him to reconsider the cuts, citing concerns about patient overload at the West Haven facility, and the inadequacy of the VA patient transportation and parking system. In March Lieberman visited the Newington facility to discuss the problem with hospital staff, VA officials, and concerned veterans.
"The VA pledged to provide veterans with healthcare within 30 miles or 30 minutes of their homes. Closing the Newington clinics will break this promise," Lieberman said.
Rather than closing the Newington clinics, Lieberman asked Principi to address the recurrent VA budget shortfall in New England. "The current VA resource allocation system is not meeting the needs of our state. We need to reexamine how we distribute VA funds and come up with a system that does not consistently fail New England," Lieberman said.
Today's meeting, hosted by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) also included Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Bob Smith (R-NH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Principi met with the New England House delegation in February.
The Senators expressed their concerns about maintaining adequate standards of care while trying to reduce the budget deficit, and shared Lieberman's view that New England region hospitals were not receiving their fair share. They urged Principi to change the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) - the formula by which funds are disbursed among 22 regions - to more accurately reflect New England's needs.
Additionally, the Senators asked Principi to lift the VA's current hiring freeze and increase wages, arguing that the current freeze and low wages have made it difficult for the hospitals to hire and maintain adequate staff. They also urged him to reimburse the region for care administered to non-indigent veterans with non-service connected illness. The VA hospitals have a mandate to care for these veterans, though they do not receive reimbursement from the VA for this care.
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