VA to Open Rural Clinics

Week of September 22, 2008

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will open 10 new Rural Outreach Clinics by 2009 for thousands of veterans living in rural areas. The clinics will provide primary care services, case management and mental health services.  Each outreach clinic will be part of a VA network, maintaining VA's quality standards and access to larger VA facilities for specialized needs. The 10 new clinics include a facility recently put in operation in Aroostook County, Maine. Scheduled to begin operation this October are facilities in Houston County, Ga.; Juneau County, Alaska; and  Wasco County, Ore. Clinics to be operational by August 2009 are in Winnemucca, Nev.; Yreka, Calif.; Utuado, Puerto Rico;  Lagrange, Texas; Montezuma Creek, Utah; and Manistique, Mich.