Peterson Appreciates VA Decision on Clinics
- Three new locations slated for Minnesota’s 7th District - 

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressman Collin Peterson (D-Minn) today applauded the decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs to open three new Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in the 7th Congressional District. These clinics will be located in Alexandria, Bemidji and Redwood Falls, and will enhance health care services for area veterans.

“The VA has decided to open five new clinics in Minnesota and three of these will be in the 7th Congressional District,” Peterson said. “I have been saying for a long time that rural veterans are at a geographic disadvantage because of the distances they must travel to receive health care from the VA.”

The proposed new VA clinics are scheduled to open no later than 2012. These clinics are part of a comprehensive plan by the Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize its nationwide system of health care facilities.

“Fosston was in the running for a VA outpatient clinic as well, but for whatever reason the VA decided Bemidji met the criteria,” Peterson said. “It’s unfortunate that Fosston didn’t also receive a designation, but it is good that the VA recognized the need to open a new clinic in the northern part of my district. Rural communities are home to numerous veterans and I appreciate anything the VA can do to make it easier for them to receive health care services.”

The VA says their new plan would save about $3.4 billion in 2006 to $750 million in 2022. These savings will free up federal dollars that can be spent delivering care to veterans.

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