Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-St. Augustine) announced today that the final accreditation for the Clyde E. Lassen State VA Nursing Home in St. Augustine, has been granted by the Federal Medicare and Medicaid offices.
        “I am pleased to announce that the new State VA nursing home in St. Johns County is now fully accredited and open to those veterans who use Medicare and Medicaid services,” said Rep. Mica.  Mica had called together an emergency meeting with VA officials after he learned that the new VA nursing facility was turning away veterans as accreditation and federal paperwork languished.
        The new Clyde E. Lassen State VA Nursing Home, which opened this past September, will help homeless veterans in the region and will also provide much needed counseling and long-term medical care for those who have served our nation.  St. Johns County is home to over 17,000 veterans and growing.  This 95,508 square-foot, 120-bed nursing home, located at 4650 State Road 16 in St. Augustine, will provide some relief for those most in need and support other over-stressed facilities in the region.
        “While I am dismayed at the bureaucracy and the time it took for the home to become fully accredited, this new VA nursing home will bring much needed and deserved support to our area’s veterans,” concluded Rep. Mica.  “The backlog of veterans who are eligible under Medicare or Medicaid can now be addressed and deserving veterans are now ready to be served.”