The Department of Veterans Affairs will spend an additional $800 million this fiscal year as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program, which makes infrastructure improvements to health care facilities to ensure safe and effective patient care.
The extra funding means more resources to repair and update aging facilities and technology, according to a release.
“This is another step forward in our efforts to make VA work better for the veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins in the release. “Improved facilities, equipment and infrastructure help improve care for veterans, and these additional funds will enable VA to achieve that goal.”
The extra money will be spent on a variety of improvement projects at various VA health care facilities, including boiler and chiller systems, electric infrastructure improvements, elevators, HVAC systems, sprinklers, and fire alarms.
Other improvement projects include the renovation of clinical/support spaces, utility system upgrades, medical equipment sites, and Electronic Health Record Modernization infrastructure
The additional funds are the result of savings gleaned from various VHA reform efforts and will bring total NRM program spending for fiscal year 2025 to $2.8 billion — a nearly $500 million increase from fiscal year 2024, according to the release.
The VA has 1,380 health care facilities across the nation and serves around 9.1 million veterans who are enrolled in its health care programs.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.