A few days ago we sent you a memorandum, "Enrolled at the VAMC? Get your dog tags to prove it." We informed you that current VERA funding for New York's VAMC's had been decreased from the funding in previous periods. This was done presumably to account for the diminished number of veterans patronizing New York VAMCs. We also suggested that further diversions of funds from New York's VAMC's to those in other regions was a serious possibility.

Well, it has happened. Check this out. A press release issued by Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA) reads in part:

"36 members of Congress have called upon the Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately halt the planned closure of a Spinal Cord Injury ward at the Bronx VAMC, the only VA Spinal Cord Injury treatment center in all of New York that treats spinal cord injured veterans from throughout the tri-state area. In a letter to VA Acting Secretary Hershel W. Gober, the New York and New Jersey Congressional delegation stated, " …we are unequivocally opposed to any attempt to reduce the number of spinal cord injury beds, and request that you stop this proposed action immediately."

In defiance of Congressional mandates to the contrary, the VA is currently in the process of eliminating an entire Veterans Affairs hospital ward. On Friday, October 20th the administration on of the Bronx VA announced to stunned in-patients on the Spinal Cord Injury ward that they were closing 22 patient care beds. Patients would be moved to other wards and in some cases other hospitals outside of New York State. The administration of the Bronx VAMC is implementing this plan in spite of P.L. 104-262 and VHA Directive 2000-002 mandating them to maintain and appropriately staff 62 SCI beds at this facility.

James Peters, Executive Director of the EPVA expressed shock when he was informed of the communication to patients on the ward. In a meeting with administrators earlier this month, Peters had suggested that they hire contract staff until such time as they could hire permanent staff but the administration refused." 'They are violating a congressional mandate and a VHA directive. Such blatant disregard for the law cannot be allowed," stated Peters. "This comes at a time when Congress is celebrating the largest increase to the Veterans Health Care budget in recent history. Why then is the administrator of the Bronx unable to hire the staff needed to appropriately staff this ward?"

A letter dated October 25, 2000, was signed by every Congressperson whose district covers the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 3, the VISN in which the Bronx VAMC is located. VISNs are the basic budgetary and decision-making unit of the VA's Healthcare System. The administration of VISN 3, as well as the VA's central office in Washington DC, are responsible for the decision to close to the Bronx VAMC ward and the letter indicates that Congress "...will oppose any effort to reduce this much needed service".

On October 30th, Secretary Gober responded to the Congressional delegation's vigorous opposition to the proposed cuts, stating "The Under Secretary for Health has reviewed the request and has approved temporarily maintaining the current census until full nursing staff levels are achieved. However, if there is a critical patient admission need, and the patient declines referral to the East Orange or Castle Point VAMC's the Bronx VAMC will accept admission even if the current census is temporarily exceeded, utilizing overtime to ensure that the staffing guidelines are met."

Obviously this is nothing more than an expedient stop-gap concession and totally unsatisfactory. It's a certainty that if veterans with spinal cord injuries, those in greatest need, can be so unceremoniously dumped upon, take a guess at what can happen to the rest of us.

Folks, the American people and Congress, too, are fully supportive of veterans. This travesty must stop. So get busy on this issue by letting your friends, relatives and neighbors know what is going on. The bean counters are still at it. If they get their way the VA budget will suffer and all veterans benefits will be up for grabs. Support you local Congressperson on this issue!