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> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> May 7, 2004

######## VA Announces Changes for Alabama Health Care Facilities

> WASHINGTON -- Opening six new community clinics is part of a
> comprehensive plan by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to
> modernize its nationwide system of health care facilities.
>
> \"These changes will provide greater access to care for veterans,\"
> said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. \"By
> strengthening our network of outpatient clinics, we will bring a
> greater quality of care closer to where most of Alabama's veterans
> live.\"
>
> Nearly a quarter of Alabama\'s 431,000 veterans \-- 101,052 \-- were
> treated last year in VA\'s health care facilities, up from 76,000 in
> 2000. In 2003, VA spent \$1.2 billion in Alabama, an increase from
> \$925 million three years before.
>
> Secretary Principi noted that about 80 percent of the health care
> provided nationwide by VA is outpatient care. He said the plan would
> allow the department to provide more of the outpatient care veterans
> want and use, while building upon VA\'s expertise in providing highly
> specialized inpatient care.
>
> The changes are part of a comprehensive plan called CARES, short for
> \"Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services.\" The secretary\'s
> report on CARES can be viewed in its entirety on VA\'s Web site at
> <http://www.va.gov/CARES>.
>
> Principi\'s announcement includes the following enhancements for
> health care affecting veterans in Alabama:

-   Open new Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Enterprise,
    Opelika, Maxwell Air Force Base, Childersburg, Guntersville and
    Bessemer by 2012;

**- More -**

> **Alabama CARES 2/2/2/2**

-   Study possibility of converting the Montgomery medical center into
    an oupatient-only facility; and

-   Pursue possibility of contracting for inpatient care for Huntsville
    area veterans.

> CARES is a plan to modernize and improve VA\'s health care system.
> Among the elements of the National CARES plan are more than 150 new
> community based outpatient clinics, potential creation of four new -
> and expansion of five existing - spinal cord injury centers, two new
> blind rehabilitation centers, and expansions throughout VA's
> healthcare system that will enhance veterans' access to VA care.
>
> In July 1999, a General Accounting Office study found that VA was
> diverting a million dollars a day -- or \$3.6 billion during a decade
> -- from veterans\' health care to maintenance on unneeded or unused
> facilities. The average age of VA\'s more than 4,900 buildings is more
> than 50 years, and the need to reduce vacant space and unneeded
> buildings has been the focus of several reports by the General
> Accounting Office.
>
> This approach to facility\'s management means the dollars once wasted
> on old and vacant buildings can be used to enhance services in the
> communities where health care is provided.
>
> \"CARES modernizes VA's 74-year old health care system,\" said
> Principi. \"I want to emphasize that no veteran will lose health care
> as a result of CARES, nor will there be any gaps in their health care
> services.\"
>
> The CARES plan was reviewed by an independent commission, which
> received more than 212,000 comments and held 81 site visits to VA and
> Department of Defense
>
> medical facilities, and state homes, 38 public hearings and 10 formal
> meeting. The commission submitted its recommendations to Secretary
> Principi in mid-February.
>
> \# \# \#
>
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>
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