The local VA facility appears to be safe from a proposed round of closures of VA facilities, but the Chillicothe VA is still at risk.
Speaking to a packed crowd of vocal and worried veterans at the local American Legion Post #23, Stacia Ruby, the Public Affairs Officer for the Ross County VA, said, “The new facility in New Boston is not scheduled to be a part of any closures. It is a new and beautiful facility.”
However, officials fear closing the Chillicothe facility could be a devastating blow to area veterans needing health care. Bill Dalton of the Scioto County Veteran’s Commission said, “I think, if it happens, it will be bad-it will put a financial strain on all of the veterans because they will have to travel farther for their medical care.”
The proposed closing comes as a result of the VA Mission Act, which tasked the agency with finding solutions to the VA healthcare crisis. The report suggests moving mental health, rehab treatment, and nursing home beds to Dayton and Circleville and spreading out other services to big cities like Columbus and Dayton.
Veterans in the crowd were outraged to see vets in the Appalachian region burdened with long travel times to seek treatment.
John Ryan, from Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office, said Senator Brown and Senator Rob Portman had both contacted the VA with their concerns over the closure.
At this point, the closures are just suggestions, and the actual shutdown would not happen for some time.
The Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission had more than a year to listen to further input on the matter before presenting final recommendations to President Biden and Congress.
