Tucson Standard

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, this week pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the recent closure of their Sierra Vista Vet Center Community Access Point.

In a letter to Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, the congressman highlighted the importance of easy access to care for our veterans and challenges posed by the closure of the Sierra Vista location. He also questioned the VA on their decision to shut down the location and requested a timeline for the opening of new location.

“This news is incredibly concerning to me as the closure of the Sierra Vista location leaves the nearest Vet Center more than 75 miles away and creates an immense burden for veterans that rely on the VA for these services,” said the letter. “Our veterans disproportionately struggle with mental health but are less likely to ask for help than their peers. Therefore, we need to focus on eliminating barriers to care and doing all we can to provide the high level of treatment they deserve.”

Though the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) has approved a Vet Center Outstation to replace of the Sierra Vista Access Point, the congressman expressed concern regarding the amount of time that veterans in Cochise County and the surrounding areas will have to wait until the location is up and running. Cochise County is home to over 18,000 veterans.

Congressman Ciscomani requested answers to the following questions by August 3, 2023:

1. How many veterans was the Sierra Vista Vet Center Community Access Point assisting on a weekly basis? 
2. How many counseling appointments did the Sierra Vista Vet Center Community Access Point provide on a weekly basis?
3. Why did the Sierra Vista Community Access Point stop providing services without giving the surrounding area sufficient notice or information on why it was closing?
4. When will the Vet Center Outstation open and what additional benefits will veterans receive with the change in Vet Center designation.
5. How long will the Vet Center Outstation take to be completed once the lease has been secured for the new center? 
6. What outreach is planned to make veterans in the surrounding communities aware of the upcoming Vet Center Outstation? 

Original source can be found here.