VA chief expected to announce hospital

Suzanne Struglinski

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 11:26 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Veteran Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi is expected to announce Friday that Las Vegas will get a new veterans hospital and other health care facilities.

Principi has been assuring the Nevada congressional delegation that a new veterans hospital will be built in Clark County.

"Las Vegas is getting a new hospital and it will be separate," Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said.

Principi called the senator Monday to say he would be approving the a health care realignment report and chose Las Vegas to do the announcement since new facilities would be built there, Ensign said.

A VA commission has proposed building a 120-bed nursing home and an outpatient clinic as part of its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services, known as CARES. The commission was in charge of studying veteran's health care facilities across the country and has recommended closing several hospitals while opening new ones in some areas.

That report did not say a new 81-bed veterans hospital would be built, but instead 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.

Ensign said the commission knows that option does not work, so a new, separate hospital will be built.

Principi has told Nevada's congressional delegation numerous times the facilities would be built.

"I can't even count the number of conversations that we've had," Ensign said.

Details on Friday's event are still being worked out, but Principi could appear at one of the local VA clinics at 11 a.m., Ensign said. Calls to the VA were not returned.

"His (Principi's) visit to Las Vegas signals very good news," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who has been in regular contact with the secretary. "A new hospital, clinic and long-term care facility are desperately needed. We must continue working to restore recent cuts to federal veterans benefits and keep the promises we have made to those who have defended our freedom.'

Aides for Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., would say only that it was a major announcement for VA health care nationally and for Southern Nevada. Berkley spoke with Principi Monday and late last week regarding the visit, spokesman David Cherry said.