Senator makes proposal to keep V-A hospitals open

The V-A Hospital in Knoxville, and several others slated for closure nationwide, would be kept open under an amendment introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. He says the legislation would bar any funding from being spent to shut down the hospital or services until a more thorough analysis on the impact of the closure can be completed. Harkin says although a facility in Des Moines would be opened to replace services provided in Knoxville, the plan would actually reduce the number of veterans served in nursing home care and would disrupt the lives of the elderly long-term care patients currently in the Knoxville hospital. Harkin says “Iowa’s veterans need the Knoxville V-A hospital. Closing this facility before sensible planning and review is just plain irresponsible. This closing has the potential to slash access to care for Iowa’s veterans and disrupt the lives of the elderly long-term care patients at the hospital.”