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PUSH IS ON FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY AT WALLA
WALLA VA -- State VA chief says Walla Walla
could
get $15 million, 80-bed facility within two
years.
For more information on the Walla Walla VA
facility, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
search.php?q=walla+walla&op=ph
We have a news story and an editorial.
Story here...
http://www.union-bulletin.
com/articles/2007/07/27/local_
news/local02.txt
Story below:
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State VA chief pushes long-term care center
At best, Walla Walla could get the $15 million,
80-bed facility within two years, he says.
By Vicki Hillhouse of the Union-Bulletin
The head of the Washington state Department of Veterans Affairs is
pushing for a long-term care facility for veterans in Walla Walla, a
move local officials believe could help ensure the federal VA's presence
here.
``I can tell you for sure as we look to the budget for the next
biennium, this will be a priority,'' John Lee, director of the state
VA's operations, said Thursday.
Lee was in Walla Walla for a meeting of the Governor's Veterans Advisory
Council, at which he said plans are moving forward on a $15 million,
80-bed veterans home for the community.
Construction costs would be shared by the state and federal VA systems.
The federal VA pays about 65 percent, and the state pays the rest.
Local officials say the key to federal funding is to first secure state
money. Lee said the state's cost would be about $5 million.
He said he will approach the Legislature for the funding in 2008, which
might be difficult given that lawmakers generally don't deal with such
appropriations during nonbudget-writing years. However, Lee said he is
optimistic because of the support that's been shown by Senate Minority
Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla.
The project would take a year to design and a year to build. Under a
best-case scenario Walla Walla could have such a facility in two years,
Lee said.
*
Though numerous details remain, the facility would be on the Jonathan M.
Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center property. Lee said
the number of beds could rise based on a needs analysis.
Local officials, who have worked to secure the federal VA's presence
here, were thrilled by the news Thursday.
``This is a big deal,'' said Walla Walla City Manager Duane Cole, adding
that a veterans home is a ``much-needed facility.''
Walla Walla County Commissioner Greg Tompkins said the presence of a
state-operated facility could be a hint of things to come with the
federal VA.
``The fact that (Lee's) even talking about moving it forward in this
time frame is good for the possibility of keeping the (federal) hospital
here long-term,'' he said.
Walla Walla's veterans hospital had been slated for closure in recent
years. But local efforts to retain services have helped spur new
investment ideas, including a multilevel, state-of-the-art federal
outpatient clinic.
Lee said the local enthusiasm also is a reason for locating the state
veterans home here.
``I think this is what people expect government to do,'' he said.
The state reportedly has wanted to build a veterans home in Southeastern
Washington so that it would have one in every major portion of the
state. The new facility is expected to relieve some of the financial
burden of long-term care from the federal VA system.
Walla Walla's Wainwright facility has 30 long-term care beds, said
Wainwright facilities planner Roxanne Sisemore.
With aging populations of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War
veterans, Sisemore said demand for more beds will surpass what the
federal facility has to offer.
``I think generally speaking, the demand for nursing home beds does not
go down,'' she said.
At the same time, at least 500 more veterans who have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan are enrolled in the VA system served by the Wainwright
facility, she said.
The state veterans home would serve honorably discharged veterans and,
on a limited basis, their spouses. Members of the National Guard also
would be eligible.
Washington's state veterans homes offer long-term care for nursing home,
assisted living and independent levels of care.
End-of-life care, including hospice care, is provided. The facilities
have full-time doctors, nurse practitioners and occupational, physical
and speech therapy professionals.
Lee said Thursday the facility would be open to veterans from Idaho and
Oregon, as well. However, those states will not be asked to help fund
the project because it could complicate budgeting for the facility.
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Editorial here...
http://www.union-bulletin
.com/articles/2007/07/31/opinion/
daily_editorial/edit01.txt
Editorial below:
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Long-term care facility at local VA hospital is
needed
We are confident the need for the facility can
be proven, just as we are certain that there is a need for the VA to
continue to have a medical center here.
By the Editorial Board of the Union-Bulletin
Now is the time to push for a long-term care facility on the grounds of
the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center.
It would be a boon for local veterans and would help secure the
long-term future of the medical center.
John Lee, director of Washington state's Office of Veterans Affairs, is
optimistic that a facility could be built in two years if everything
went right.
Lee, who was in Walla Walla last week, is looking to secure $5 million
in funds from the state Legislature next year. That money would be used
to fund the state's portion of the proposed $15 million facility. The
federal VA would then pick up the rest of the tab.
Lee said it was important to get the state funds up front to show the
federal government that Washington is serious about the project.
``I can tell you for sure as we look to the budget for the next biennium
this will be a priority,'' Lee said during his visit.
Lee will be working with Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla
Walla, Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-College Place and Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla
Walla, to highlight the need for the facility. Lee was optimistic that
lawmakers would fund the project, perhaps as early as 2008.
*
But getting funding next year might be difficult as legislators
generally focus on long-term capital projects when they write the
two-year state budget in odd years such as 2009.
Lee and local officials who have worked to secure the VA's presence in
Walla Walla understand that getting the needed facilities built is a
long-term effort. Lee indicated he is willing to invest the time and
energy to the project because he believes it is needed.
The state VA system wants to have a long-term care facility in every
major region of the state. A facility in Walla Walla would serve
Southeastern Washington and would also be available for veterans from
Northeast Oregon and Idaho.
The current plan calls for building an 80-bed facility, but that could
be increased to 100 beds or more if analysis shows the need exits.
We are confident the need can easily be proven, just as we are certain
that there is a need for the VA to continue to have a medical center
here.
The number of veterans returning home from war is growing. Many of them
have serious wounds, physical as well as mental.
In addition, veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam are aging and
in need of care - long-term care. The demand for medical services is
growing far faster than the facilities are being built.
Wainwright is the right place to provide medical services, including
long-term care, to our veterans.
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Larry Scott --
