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(GREEN BAY, WI) -- Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. is working hard to make it easier for Northeast Wisconsin veterans to receive quality health care close to home. Together with area veterans and Brown County leaders, Dr. Kagen announced today that funding for a vastly expanded VA Ambulatory Surgery/Outpatient Diagnostic Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinic has been included in President Bush’s 2009 budget request.
“Our veterans should be able to receive the essential medical benefits they have earned closer to home. Working together with the Bush administration and VA Deputy Under-Secretary for Health William Feely, we are going to make it happen sooner than later,” Dr. Kagen said.
“Wisconsin’s brave soldiers, and their families, have made incredible sacrifices for our nation, and we owe them our best efforts to guarantee they receive the very best medical services available. Working together, our communities, and these leaders, will do whatever is necessary to get the job done,” Kagen stated.
Recognizing the significant need for both surgical and medical veterans’ services, Dr. Kagen and the Veterans Administration moved the medical center request forward in time to FY 2009. The funding was originally scheduled for FY 2010. The lease for the new facility will be awarded in September 2009, and occupancy assumed in June of 2011. The VA center will increase the total square feet available from 12,000 to 70,600 and will increase patient enrollment capacity from 2,500 to 15,000 patients.
“We dedicate ourselves to guaranteeing access to affordable care for every citizen as soon as possible. This new Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center is a great step in that direction,” said Dr. Kagen.
The new facility will be located in Brown County and will offer specialty services previously available only in Milwaukee, including orthopedics, mental health, laboratory, radiology physical therapy, pharmacy, dietetics, social services, hospice care, compensation benefit exams, and some outpatient surgical procedures.
“Many of our veterans have to drive a long way to get certain types of treatment. With this expanded VA clinic in Green Bay, they can get the care they deserve close to home,” said Jerry Polus, Brown County Veterans Service Office Director.
Brown County Executive Tom Hinz is optimistic about what the new VA clinic will mean for the local economy. “Having this expanded VA clinic here will create jobs, bring in revenue for our county and save so many of our veterans time and money by having their treatment facility right next door.”
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