Knowing of your interest in issues involving our veterans, I wanted to follow-up on an earlier e-update I sent in January regarding the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) plan to expand health care services in Siskiyou and Yuba Counties.  For the Yuba-Sutter area, the VA recently announced that it is finalizing an agreement with the Feather River Indian Tribe and Indian Health Service for veteran patients to be seen at the Indian Health Service Clinic in Yuba City starting this summer. This important preliminary action will allow veterans to start receiving primary care services while the VA prepares to open a new Yuba or Sutter County Community Based Outpatient Clinic in 2010. The VA has identified a 2-mile radius around Marysville and Yuba City and both major hospitals in which to solicit proposals of spaces that would meet the criteria required for the clinic. Their goal is to have the clinic site selected within the next 90 days. While it is difficult to estimate the timeline for modifying the space, staffing needs have already been identified and personnel will be brought on-board to coincide with the opening of the clinic.

In Siskiyou County, the VA has collected proposals from medical providers in the Yreka area to provide primary care services to local veterans.  The VA expects a contract to be awarded by July 1, 2009 with the start of the contract beginning in early September. Please know that I will continue to keep you updated on these important developments for veterans in our local communities.