Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Reps. Mark Souder (IN-03) and Joe Donnelly (IN-02) announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the contract to run the new community-based outpatient clinic in Goshen to Ambulatory Care Solutions.

Based in Indiana, Ambulatory Care Solutions is a veteran-owned employer currently operating community-based outpatient clinics for the VA in South Bend, Terre Haute, and Bloomington.

“We are about to realize our long-fought goal of opening a new veterans’ outpatient clinic in Goshen,” Souder said. “Veterans in Elkhart and Kosciusko Counties, as well as western Noble and LaGrange Counties, desperately need this clinic, which will open in just a few months. It has been a true pleasure to work on this issue with Joe Donnelly and, previously, Chris Chocola, and today’s announcement demonstrates what can be achieved with sustained cooperation and bipartisanship. John Earnest and Ambulatory Care Solutions have a proven track record running veterans’ outpatient clinics, and I congratulate them on winning the award.”

“I am happy to be one step closer to opening up the much-needed community-based veterans’ outpatient clinic in Goshen,” said Donnelly.  “In my very first meeting with the VA, I highlighted the importance of this clinic, and I have consistently advocated for it since that time.  During this process, I have enjoyed a partnership with Congressman Souder to achieve our common goal to help our veterans.”

Although an independent VA commission mentioned Elkhart County as a priority location for a new outpatient clinic in its draft plan, the panel’s final recommendations to the VA Secretary in 2004 did not include the Goshen clinic.  Immediately, Souder and then-U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola (IN-02) pressured the VA to adhere to the commission’s draft plan and open the new Goshen outpatient clinic.  Since he came to Congress, Donnelly and Souder have worked together closely on this project.

Ambulatory Care Solutions is currently expected to open the new Goshen clinic by around October 1, 2008.  The location will be 2014 Lincolnway East, Goshen, Indiana.

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