Amidst a myriad of backlogs, one VA project is ahead of schedule — the large-scale closure of VA medical centers.
Research started last year to identify whether VA services, resources, and facilities were distributed evenly across the country. This research, under the VA Mission Act, will be used to review and assess the infrastructure of the VA — closing and opening VA facilities accordingly. That research is ahead of schedule, meaning there could be a gap between the completion of it and the implementation of its findings.
At Wednesday's House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie explained that — if possible — VA will move the implementation schedule up.
“We’ll come back to you this summer and give you an assessment of where things are,” he said. “If we can, to meet the expectations of this committee and the changing need of veterans, we’re going to come to Congress and ask to move that timeline up.”
The knee-jerk reaction to closing VA medical centers is a negative one. But, in reality, the restructuring should significantly increase the effectiveness of VA resources.
According to Dr. Richard Stone, Veterans Health Administration executive, only 63 percent of medical beds are filled. A lot of this has to do with where those beds are located around the country.
“We know veterans are moving south and west,” said committee ranking member Rep. Phil Roe (R-Ky.). “VA needs to be more nimble with how it’s able to move. We can’t keep thousands of beds underutilized or not used at all.”
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