Nearly the entire South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming Congressionals delegation have sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, asking him to come to Hot Springs for a meeting on a VA proposal to close its medical center there.
Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune of South Dakota, Mike Enzi and John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Representatives Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Adrian Smith of Nebraska also want the Save the VA Committee included in the meeting.
They expressed in the letter their “frustration and disappointment” on the unwillingness of regional VA officials to consider alternatives to closure offered by the Save the VA group…which had been promised by VA Black Hills Health Care System director Steve DiStasio that its alternatives would be considered.
Talks between the two sides broke down last month after DiStasio and VA regional officials said they were not in a position to negotiate from their initial plan. The letter from the Congressional delegations tells Shinseki that it’s important he hear first-hand from veterans, Hot Springs residents, and other stakeholders directly affected by the VA plan.
Save the VA Executive Committee member Pat Russell…speaking on behalf of the group…says the letter shows that the Congressional delegations are committed to the men and women who’ve served their country. Russell also says his group is looking forward to an “open and honest discussion” with the delegations and Shinseki on making decisions that “are in the best interests of all our veterans, urban and rural.”
A cost analysis done for the VA showed it would cost much less to close the Hot Springs center and replace it with a new domiciliary in Rapid City, a walk-in clinic in Hot Springs, and more contracting for services from hospitals and others in the region than to remodel or renovate the existing complex.
Save the VA crafted a plan it says is not only cheaper still but would provide better care for veterans. It would have Hot Springs host a national demonstration project focused on finding the best treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and related problems.
The centerpiece would be a new a for-profit manufacturing company that would use domicillary patients and other veterans to make as-yet undetermined products. 75% of net profits would go to the VA to offset treatment and related costs, with the rest going to community development.