Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 | 10:04 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Although a federal panel did not make a clear recommendation for a new veterans hospital, Nevada's congressional delegation is counting on a verbal agreement from Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi that three health care facilities will come to Las Vegas,
In the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Commission recommendations made to Principi on Friday, the panel recommended a new nursing home and outpatient clinic for the area's growing veterans population but did not clearly back a new hospital for the area.
The VA proposed building a new 81-bed veterans hospital, a 120-bed nursing home and an outpatient clinic in Las Vegas through the CARES program that is re-evaluating the entire veteran's health care system.
But in Friday's report, the commission recommended the government continue to expand its veterans health care services at Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital at Nellis Air Force Base before building a new VA hospital.
"This partnership allows for shared services that support inpatient beds and will reduce redundancies and be more cost-efficient than operating two separate hospital facilities," according to the report.
The panel also said that given the "uniqueness of the Las Vegas situation" with its fast population growth, if the Defense Department cannot fulfill the medical need of the area's veterans, "the VA should exercise the option of constructing a new VA hospital in Las Vegas."
The entire Nevada delegation has had a hand in convincing Principi that Las Vegas needs new facilities.
In a statement, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said he was pleased to see a commitment for the clinic and nursing home but said he would continue to work with the secretary on getting a new hospital.
"It is important to note that the secretary can accept or reject the proposals of the CARES commission," Gibbons said.
Principi has 30 days to accept or reject parts of the plan or the whole thing, Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said.
A call from Principi to Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., assured the senator that, regardless of the report, Las Vegas would get a hospital.
Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said through his spokesman Adam Mayberry that he also has a verbal commitment but that there is still work to be done to make sure it comes through.
At a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing last month, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., heard from Undersecretary for Health Robert Roswell that even if all of the additions were made at the Nellis hospital, it would not satisfy the area's need. Berkley also heard from Principi earlier this month that all three facilities would be built.
During its work on its recommendation report, the commission members toured the 10 current veterans clinics and the Nellis hospital facilities and had a public hearing in September. It received 1,822 public comments on health care services in the Southern California and Nevada region.
"The need for additional VA capacity in Las Vegas, including inpatient, outpatient and nursing home care, is clear," the commissioners wrote.
John Hempel, director of the local VA system, would not comment on the recommendations because they are still under review, spokesman David Martinez said.
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