Norton Sounds Alarm on Scheduled Closing for D.C.’s Only Veteran Outpatient Clinic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter today she sent to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Robert Wilkie, requesting that the VA stop the closure of the Southeast Washington Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which is set for September 30, 2019, after the location's lease expires. This VA outpatient clinic is the only location in the District of Columbia, where veterans can receive a multitude of medical and preventative health care services, including health education, mental health services, and addiction counseling. Tomorrow, the House Subcommittee on Government Operations will hold a hearing titled "Ensuring Quality Health Care for Our Veterans," where Norton will press the VA for answers.

Norton's letter reads, in part: "This CBOC is the only VA-operated outpatient clinic in the District of Columbia and provides basic medical and preventative health care, health education, mental health services, addiction counseling, comprehensive women's health care and nutritional counseling to eligible veterans. This facility also provides referral services to veterans who require specialized care. If this CBOC closes when its lease expires on September 30, 2019, D.C. will lose its only outpatient VA health care facility."

The full text of the letter is below:

June 14, 2019

The Honorable Robert Wilkie

Secretary

Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Wilkie:

It has been brought to my attention that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-operated Southeast Washington Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is scheduled to close this year. This CBOC is the only VA-operated outpatient clinic in the District of Columbia and provides basic medical and preventative health care, health education, mental health services, addiction counseling, comprehensive women's health care and nutritional counseling to eligible veterans. This facility also provides referral services to veterans who require specialized care. If this CBOC closes when its lease expires on September 30, 2019, D.C. will lose its only outpatient VA health care facility.

I am sure you agree that veterans should have easy access to the services and treatment they need. If this CBOC closes, veterans in the District would have to visit the main DC VA Medical Center or travel to Prince George's County, MD for primary and preventative health care. It is unclear whether the VA would provide free transportation for veterans to visit the Prince George's County. I urge the VA to maintain a presence in in the District and continue to serve the community.

I ask that you respond to this letter in writing within 30 days, outlining how the VA plans to serve veterans living in Washington, D.C. who would be impacted by this closure, including plans to maintain a presence in the District.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton