VA report completed, expected to be released next week

The long-awaited study on ways to improve veterans’ health care in the Rio Grande Valley is complete and should be made available next week, according to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office.

Hutchison asked officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to meet with elected officials in the Rio Grande Valley next week to brief them on the results, according to her office.

The senator requested the study from the VA in December 2005.

Veterans throughout South Texas have been fighting for years for better health care, including an area VA hospital.

Most recently, they have met on numerous occasions with elected officials in the Valley and have traveled to Washington, D.C., to make their case.

Many told their stories of having to travel to San Antonio for medical care — where Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital is the nearest full-service VA facility — but having trouble finding adequate transportation to get there or lodging if they need to stay overnight or for an extended period of time.

Others have told of traveling to San Antonio but not receiving care because the hospital was already treating too many patients.

Felix Rodriguez, district commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 18, has been active in seeking a hospital for the Valley. He said veterans are excited and anxious to see what the study says but won’t lose sight of their goal, regardless of what the report suggests.

“We’re still focusing on a hospital,” Rodriguez said.

Congressmen representing South Texas said they were glad to hear the report was complete and hope it will offer recommendations on how to improve health care to veterans, including opening a VA hospital.

The study would provide recommendations, but the final decision would be up to Congress.

“I am tired of studies. We need to get with it and give (veterans) a hospital,” said U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, who introduced a resolution in January calling for better health care for veterans, including a VA hospital for South Texas.

Ortiz said he is hopeful his proposal, House Resolution 538, will pass the House, though it still would need approval from the Senate and the president. So far, it appears the measure has support from the chairmen of the House committee and subcommittee responsible for moving it forward.

Hutchison and fellow Texas Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn co-sponsored a similar bill that is making its way through the Senate.

Rodriguez said veterans groups are planning another trip to Washington to talk with legislators from northern states that are home to many of the Valley’s Winter Texan veterans, to garner more support for a hospital in this region.

“It behooves them for the legislation to go through,” Rodriguez said.

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers health, environment and science issues and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.