Letter to the Hon. Robert Wilkie - Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Fights for Chenango County Veterans, Opposes Moving Veterans Clinic out of Bainbridge

Letter

Dear Acting Secretary Wilkie:

I write today to voice my concern and opposition to any plan by the Department of Veterans Affairs to move the Bainbridge Community Based Outpatient Clinic located in the 22nd Congressional District. Moving this important clinic to the Oneonta area would devastate Chenango County, which is home to over 3,600 veterans.

Bainbridge, Chenango County is a rural, lower income and aging community that lacks access to both healthcare and transportation. As you can imagine, this move would have a serious impact on veterans and their families in my district who rely on this clinic for care, especially veterans on a fixed income or who have difficulty traveling.

Throughout recent weeks, I have heard from several concerned constituents, including State Senator Fred Akshar, Town of Bainbridge Supervisor Dolores Nabinger, and residents of the greater Bainbridge area, veterans and non-veterans alike, who claim that the Albany VA Medical Center is considering moving the Community Based Outpatient Clinic from its current location in Bainbridge to the Oneonta area.

On March 21, 2018, I contacted Acting Medical Center Director Darlene Delancey of the Albany VA Medical Center to request clarification and information on plans to move the clinic, and if there would be a chance for public input and comment. Acting Director Delancey's staff responded to my letter on March 29, 2018, indicating that the contract for the Clinic expires in December 2018, and that efforts to move the clinic were due to a high veteran population in the Oneonta area in Otsego County. No mention of a public comment period, hearings, or similar attempts to receive community input were mentioned.

While I certainly understand the VA's intention to better serve our veterans, I find it highly concerning that the VA would consider eliminating this vital clinic from a region with an already underserved population. If it is found that a sizeable number of veterans also lack access to care in the greater Oneonta area, I would urge the addition of a new clinic in that region while retaining the Bainbridge Community Based Outpatient Clinic. This would maintain quality care for veterans in my district and expand this important care in another heavily underserved area.

I look forward to your response on this important issue impacting thousands of veterans in the 22nd Congressional District of New York. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter and your service to our nation's veterans.

Respectfully,

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