CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released an assessment on Monday that recommends the closure of the Chillicothe V.A. Medical Center.
The closure stems from a law signed by former President Donald J. Trump in 2018, when Congress passed the Mission Act. As part of the bill, a group would asses the future of healthcare for veterans in the country.
According to the report provided by the commission, the recommendations concerning the Chillicothe facility included closing the entire campus and creating regional urgent cares.
The recommendations listed are:
- Establishing a strategic collaboration to provide inpatient medical services and discontinuing those services at the Chillicothe VAMC.
- Relocating inpatient mental health, RRTP, CLC, and outpatient services currently provided at the Chillicothe VAMC to current or future VA facilities and discontinuing those services at the Chillicothe VAMC.
- Closing the Chillicothe VAMC.
- Establishing a new MS CBOC in the vicinity of Chillicothe, Ohio.
In the report, the federal commission stated, “The Chillicothe VAMC is not optimally located as it is an estimated 60 minutes south of Columbus, Ohio, the largest population center in the state. In addition to the projected decrease in bed need for inpatient acute care services at the VAMC, the enrollee population in the Chillicothe area (Ross County) is projected to decrease by 8.5% to 3,196 enrollees by FY 2029.”
A spokesperson for the Veterans Health Administration in Washington, D.C., told the Guardian last week that healthcare remains a priority.
“Veterans will always be at the center of what we do. The AIR Commission is an opportunity to redesign VA health care to maximize access and outcomes for current and future generations of veterans. It is important to note that any recommendations to the upcoming AIR Commission are just that—recommendations.”
The Chillicothe facility has been in operation since 1924, and employs nearly 1,400 people. Employees were told about the projected closure earlier this month. Those employees and others who attended a recent briefing but wished to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the report said previously announced plans to transfer the primary mission of the Chillicothe facility to Columbus remains in play.
“We’ve all heard the stories of the promises Uncle Sam made to these brave men and women during earlier conflicts. To take away their local medical care would be devastating,” said a passionate Johna Pulver. Pulver has been with the local veteran’s advocacy office for more than 30 years. Her father was in the United States military.
“One more slap to the face of those who willingly risk their lives to protect the rest of us. The service Chillicothe VA provides to the veterans of southern Ohio is essential. The convenience of location is critical to our older veterans. They are not numbers; they are human beings. Some have endured horrors the rest of us can’t begin to imagine. It is important they be allowed to remain close to home at this fragile stage of life.”
Pulver started to get emotional as the passion inside her became evident.
“As we approach the one-hundredth anniversary of the Chillicothe VA and think of the thousands of WWI war-wounded treated at Camp Sherman. The Spanish flu epidemic and the countless thousands who have served in every war and conflict since then have received medical treatment here. It is difficult for me to understand how anyone or any group of people claiming to have the best interests of America’s veterans at heart would think eliminating this facility is a good idea. ”
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis R. McDonough said on Thursday during an online conversation with stakeholders the “recommendations, if approved, will add up to the one thing that matters most: more care and better care for the vets we serve.” He said the recommendations are based market assessments, studies of VA facilities, local partnerships, and the make-up of veteran population by health care needs, age, race, gender, era of service and area of residence.
McDonough said he understood those who may be concerned about the prospect for future change. To address those concerns there has been a coordinated effort to communicate with VA employees, union members, VA partners, veterans and service organizations before the report was published.
“I also want to say now to anyone who’s concerned about the process that VA is here to stay,” McDonough said. “This is an investment in VA, not a retreat; we’re doubling down and strengthening our ability to deliver world-class health care.”
McDonough said in markets where changes have been recommended, the health care infrastructure will be built to meet shifting needs of veteran care. When new infrastructure is in place and there is no more need for the old medical center, he said, closure will be recommended “so we can focus on investing in new facilities rather than pouring limited dollars into a facility that opened just after World War I.”
VA resources state that since the report is published, the AIR Commission will begin conducting public hearings, visit VA facilities, meet with employees and VA partners – and get input from veterans. AIR Commission members will assess the recommendations, make any changes they deem necessary, and forward them to the president.
McDonough said on Thursday the president will decide whether to submit the recommendations to Congress, which can accept those recommendations as a whole by inaction or reject them by passing a joint resolution. If the recommendations are approved, the VA must begin implementation within three years — timelines for completion will vary by market according to priorities and funding.
In 2020, the VA closed its acute care facility, spurring protests from veteran organizations and the American Federation of Government Employees Union. The decision left hundreds of local veterans having to trek to Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati for healthcare.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown pinned a letter regarding the consolidation and closure of the acute care facility.
“It has come to my attention that VA is in the process of consolidating positions within the facility, and neither the decision to do so nor the process has been transparent with veterans, their families, or local stakeholders. Any decision to consolidate services at a facility or close a medical service line should be transparent and provide for opportunities for the community to provide feedback,” said Senator Brown.
The announcement have caught the attention of 2022 Gubernatorial hopefuls.
Former Dayton Mayor and Democratic Candidate Nan Whaley was fired up about the possible closure.
“The fact of the matter is, Ohio must do so much more to support our veterans. Our state is currently leaving federal VA money on the table to build and maintain veteran’s new facilities while our facilities have a waitlist,” she told the Guardian. “As Governor, I’ll fight to keep our promises to veterans by building at least 15 new state veterans homes with 1,000 new beds. We owe our veterans nothing less.”
The government just put hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating these buildings. Chillicothe has been a psyciatric hospital serving the needs of Veterans returning from every war since WW2. I would argue that the peaceful grounds provide much needed respite for these combat vets.
What is to become of those renovated long term care units. The government put a huge amount of money in these renovations. (except for long term psych) Relocating those veterans to the city will be awful for those veterans. I hope this decision will be voted down and the head of the VA replaced. He does not have the best interest of the Veterans in mind.
I think this is terrible. What a dishonor to our veterans who have fought for our freedom. My father proudly served in the United States Marines during World War 11. I remember as a child he would come to Chillicothe V.A. to get medicines for him as we couldn’t afford them. The care he received at the V.A. Hospitals helped keep our family from having large medical bills. Our Veterans deserve better!!
I live about 15 miles from the Chillicothe VA. I have been getting all my medical care there for over 25 years. closing would mean that I would have to drive 65 to 75 miles or more & my health will not allow me to do that. What am I to do if this happens. I am a 71 year old Vet.
They need too make it into homeless veteran’s apartments
We already have that out here and it’s a disaster. Drugs, hookers, violence, public intoxicated fools….We don’t need more of that. Sometimes, you have to want to help yourself first. I’m a veteran with four deployments. Most the homeless veterans are homeless due to their own ignorance, nothing about the military. Get a life Debora and speak for yourself next time.
I’ll bet it will become a halfway facility for the half wit druggies in this state….so much effort put in to such pathetic personal choices by embiciles….but the veteran takes the punch again. BAN NARCAN and let em flop!
I don’t know what the number say, what they mean or, even what a based market assessment means. I have been to 6 separate Va facilities since I got back from my times in Afghanistan. I lost my family, job and all those close to me cause I tried to bury what I went through over there. Tried to drink and suppress it everyday hoping to wake up from it and not think about it forget it all. I was ready to give up Chillicothe VA was it for me. I told my self if something doesn’t click here I’m done I refuse to live with the guilt, memories and dreams that haunted me day and night this was going to be my last stop. Because of this facility I met people who cared, who didn’t look at me as another vet who is messed up. Dr. Kamara McGill, Dr.Nathan Shiflett and Nurse Practitioner Tammy Dillard saved my life. They kept me from doing something I was going to do that I had made my mind up cause they cared. Everyone there cares about us. I trusted them when I didn’t trust anyone. Dr. McGill is amazing and cares for every singe veteran that steps through her doors in a way I didn’t see any any Va faculty I went to. She showed me I will never ever forget but I can live after and be okay. Took the time to show me I did matter at a time when nothing did at all. My after care coordinated by Dr. Shifflet and Tammy kept me coming back cause they care called me out of the blue to make sure I was okay weather it be Dr. Shiflett call to talk just about college basketball cause he knew my love of The University of Kentucky, Tammy spending time after every appointment to just talk and ask about my life no rush and just listened or Doc McGill who taught me I’m still who I was before I got hurt and I still matter and I can get through this. Who called when I lost someone very special to me and offered to drive 2 hours away to attend the funeral with me because she knew how important this person was in my recovery. These hero’s that put us veterans back together are one of a kind. If this place closes ? What happens to the next me who shows up and these amazing people aren’t there to save them like they did me. This facility is one of a kind and take it from me who has been through it this is the one facility that care more about their veterans after they punch out everyday than those who are on the clock at any other facility and closing this facility isn’t just a tragedy it’s a lose to every veteran who needs help cause now there is one amazing tool they would have had to get the help they need gone because of numbers. This place saves lives and I hope those in the appropriate places make the right decision to save us instead of saving money. Thank you for reading
Sir, first off I want to say thank you for your service. Secondly I want to say I am so sorry that you have to go through what you are going through. You and other veterans deserve so much better than what you have received from the government.😪😪😪🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🥲👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 THEY ARE EVIL AND NEED THEIR NUTS CUT OFF FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO YOU!!!!!!! it’s NOT right that you laid down your life for the USA and you have all of these messed up memories of the things you’ve seen and done!!
That’s not right that they can do that to people and then not take care of them!!! They should have them in every spot that needs it. Since Columbus Ohio needs, it build one up there, but don’t close the one down in Chillicothe, because the people who live in the area still need the same providers that Columbus would have. If it hadn’t been for the doctors this young man wouldn’t be here today to tell his story and possibly just save more lives. Mr. President, please help people who need services in Chillicothe, Ohio by keeping the VETERANS ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS OPEN!!!!!!!! They NEED those people who have helped them like those folks that have helped this young man!! Do you want the people who fought for our country to suffer?? Because by closing the VA in Chillicothe , Ohio will be doing just that.
Thank you again soldier for protecting me and mine and I’m sorry they want to treat you like shit. Fight back baby!!! You deserve to get whatever help you need for the rest of your life, 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏!!!!!!!!!
The Chillicothe VA saved my life. Period. I thought it was despicable that they got rid of the Dommiciliary, and I find it atrocious that they are recommending closure of the entire facility. I lived at the Chillicothe VA from May 1st, 2017 to January 3rd, 2018, and had it not been for the time I spent there and the people I met and got close to, I would have died. Without a doubt. I’m shocked by this news, and I’m going to lose sleep over it tonight.
I have visited someone who lives there. The entire facility is full of meth heads crack heads and drunks. Its suppose to be a place for help not a facility to house junkies!!!
Since mission act was introduced does that mean we can go to local hospitals an/or clinic for care. Mission act states that if over 40 miles to a VA hospital we can do that. I have used that several times and Va Paid for it
I am 100% and myself and all other vets deserve the best care at no cost to them
The people making these decisions need to get off their asses and give the Veterans the best resources they deserve.
Thanks (ONE ANGRY VETERAN)
I live about 17 miles from the Chillicothe VA. I’ve been going there for about 19yrs to get all my medical issues taken care of. I needed an operation 4yrs ago and the VA. at Chillicothe saved both my legs. With the high cost of living and the rise of gas prices traveling to Columbus or Dayton would only make it a greater hardship on not just myself but I’m sure other veterans as well. We need to keep this facility open.