SOURCE: www.va.gov
$1.8 Billion Investment Improves Care And Services For Veterans
Washington, D.C. . . . The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) committed the last of its $1.8 billion in Recovery Act funds July 31, one of the first federal agencies to achieve that milestone. Projects at more than 1,200 sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will increase access to health care and services to Veterans, while creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
“Veterans across the nation are benefitting from these Recovery Act funds,” said Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki. “Recovery Act projects are improving medical care, speeding the claims processing, enhancing our national cemeteries, advancing our energy efficiency, and generating jobs for Americans.”
The funding received by VA is part of President Obama’s economic recovery plan to improve services to America’s Veterans. By obligating these funds quickly, VA is revitalizing infrastructure and moving needed money into the economy.
Using Recovery Act funds, VA entered into 1,521 contracts with 696 contractors. Three-quarters of the contractors are Veterans ‘ owned businesses, either service disabled Veterans owned businesses or Veteran owned small businesses.
Health Care Services Enhanced
VA obligated $1 billion to improve VA medical care facilities across the country through building renovations, roadway and walkway repairs, high cost equipment replacement, security improvements, new construction, replacement of steam lines and boiler plants, upgrades in emergency power distribution, and purchases of additional emergency generators among others.
To help Veterans access care, Recovery Act projects in VA medical facilities will add or improve more than 26,000 parking spaces and 39 elevator banks are being built or upgraded. VA will upgrade nearly 14,000 inpatient bed spaces, while 16 pharmacy renovation projects will help Veterans get medicines quicker and more efficiently. More than 14,400 clinical improvement projects, some with multiple exam rooms, will be undertaken.
Funds are also helping ensure VA health care facilities more efficiently (by reducing annual recurring maintenance and upkeep cost) and are equipped to provide world-class care to Veterans.
Specific projects include:
- Bedford, Mass., VA Medical Center (VAMC) mental health unit renovation, $7,165 million;
- Philadelphia VAMC emergency room renovations, $4.74 million;
- Cleveland VAMC surgical suite refurbishment, $8.5 million;
- New Haven, Conn., VAMC electrical distribution infrastructure upgrade, $7.743 million;
- Hines, Illinois, VAMC electrical distribution infrastructure upgrade, $8 million.
VA serves 5.5 million Veterans annually in its hospitals, outpatient clinics and rural health programs.
Energy Conservation
VA is promoting energy conservation and reducing its environmental footprint by investing $200 million in Recovery Act funds for renewable generation technologies, metering systems, and energy conservation and water-saving measures. In total, the renewable energy systems awarded represent more than 9 megawatts of planned power generating capacity from solar wind and cogeneration technologies.
Two national cemeteries in Bourne, Mass., and San Joaquin, CA., anticipate producing enough electricity to supply nearly all of their energy needs.
VA is installing solar photovoltaic systems at facilities in Albuquerque, NM; Tucson, AZ; Dublin, GA, Calverton, NY; San Joaquin, CA, and Riverside, CA.
VA is erecting a wind turbine in Bourne, MA, and is constructing a geothermal system at its medical center in St. Cloud, MN.
In addition, VA is building renewably fueled cogeneration systems at five medical facilities: Togus, Maine; White River Junction, VT; Chillicothe, Ohio; Loma LInda, California; and Canandaigua, New York.
VA is installing metering systems at all VA-owned facilities to monitor energy utilities including electricity, water, chilled water, steam, and natural gas consumption.
VA is also investing $197 million in energy and water infrastructure improvements. VA facilities across the country are upgrading their facilities to reduce energy consumption and water usage and better manage related costs.
Claims Processing Improvements
VA is working to improve the systems for processing claims to more quickly and efficiently deliver benefits to Veterans. VA has obligated $150 million to hire, train and equip new employees to improve claims processing and speed the delivery of benefits to Veterans. VA has hired approximately 2,700 temporary and permanent employees to assist with processing Veterans’ claims for VA benefits.
National Cemeteries Revitalized
Throughout VA’s system of 131 national cemeteries, 391 improvement projects are underway using $50 million in Recovery Act funding. VA is restoring and preserving 49 historic monuments and memorials, becoming more energy efficient by investing in renewable energy sources (solar and wind), moving forward on nine national cemeteries.
One-time Benefit Payments
The Recovery Act provided one-time $250 economic recovery payments to eligible Veterans, their survivors, and dependents to help mitigate the effects of the current economy. $7.1 million were intended for administrative support of the one-time benefit payments. VA was able to successfully administer the program with a savings of approximately $6.1 million, and may return the remaining funds to the U.S. Treasury.